Iloilo City Gov’t, DOLE ink MOA for P5.49-M livelihood program

Livelihood assistance to 233 beneficiaries in Iloilo City has been formally secured after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and the turnover of a P5.49 million check between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the City Government for the Negosyo sa Kariton and Sari-sari Store Project.

The livelihood project seeks the inclusive maximization of micro-businesses in the metro through the distribution of 133 uniform food carts and the improvement of 100 sari-sari stores, made possible through the initiative of Executive Assistant Raisa Treñas-Chu.

Present during the MOA signing on Monday, July 22, were Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, DOLE VI Assistant Regional Director Melisa Navarra, DOLE-Iloilo Officer-in-Charge Amalia Judicpa, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office Department Head Velma Jane Lao, and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay.

“If we want to promote food tourism and stay true to the city’s gastronomy efforts, our workforce should be ready,” Umadhay said in an interview, citing the city’s thrust for food tourism following its designation as the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Creative City of Gastronomy.

The 233 beneficiaries, all with viable businesses, have undergone different phases of screening and training. Through the Uswag Negosyo Academy, they were taught financial literacy and business sustainability.

The Iloilo City Government also partnered with the University of the Philippines to train the food safety officers and beneficiaries on food safety standards.

“Indi pwede nga dole-out lang kita pirme. For sustainability, we need to empower them with the right technology and equipment to ensure that we make it better for everybody,” Umadhay added.

The assisted livelihood project was pioneered in 2023 with only 40 beneficiaries, consisting of frozen goods and rice retail businesses.

“Gapasalamat gid kami kay collective effort ni sya. We cannot do anything without our partners in ensuring that we provide a scientific and logical approach to the problems we have here in Iloilo City. We celebrate our partnership through these programs. In the genuine desire to help others, we produce sustainable livelihoods for everybody,” the PESO manager said. (Pearl Socias/Iloilo City PIO)