In a significant move to bolster economic activities in the Ilocos Region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated PHP633 million to support the livelihoods of 43,270 households in 2024. This initiative, part of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), aims to enhance the socio-economic status of the region’s residents by providing them with the necessary resources to start and sustain their businesses.
The distribution of funds across the region was as follows: PHP202 million was allocated to 12,374 households in Ilocos Norte, PHP141.4 million to 11,235 households in Ilocos Sur, PHP108 million to 7,060 households in Central and Eastern Pangasinan, PHP94.3 million to 6,770 households in La Union, and PHP87 million to 5,831 households in Western Pangasinan. These funds are intended to support a variety of ventures, predominantly in agriculture and small-scale retail.
Evelyn Acosta, the regional program coordinator for SLP in Ilocos, highlighted that the beneficiaries are primarily engaged in producing rice, corn, and other agricultural products, as well as running small shops and food businesses. Each household received up to PHP15,000 as start-up capital, accompanied by training to ensure the success of their projects. The DSWD monitors these projects for five years to ensure they remain operational and profitable.
For the current year, DSWD has set a target to support 5,457 households with a budget of PHP113.4 million. The largest portion of this year’s allocation, PHP54.2 million, is designated for 2,614 households in Western Pangasinan. Other allocations include PHP32.5 million for 1,457 households in Central and Eastern Pangasinan, PHP12.6 million for 607 households in La Union, PHP9.2 million for 341 households in Ilocos Sur, and PHP4.9 million for 234 households in Ilocos Norte.
The selection of beneficiaries for this year’s program was based on the Listahanan or the National Targeting System, focusing on unserved members of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) and other low-income groups. Before receiving funds, beneficiaries will undergo a three-month social preparation phase. Acosta noted that the number of beneficiaries and the fund allocation could increase depending on national government funding.
The SLP operates through two main tracks: microenterprise development and employment facilitation, and follows a comprehensive five-year sustainability plan. This plan includes capability-building activities, partnerships, and continuous monitoring and evaluation to support the beneficiaries in achieving long-term economic stability.