MARAWI CITY,
Lanao del Sur, January 23 (PIA) --- As many as 12,000 residents in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who wish to start up their own
livelihood projects would receive financial assistance this year from the
region’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM).
Rahima Alba, ARMM Social Welfare Secretary, said the
beneficiaries are members of 480 Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K)
associations across the region.
“Maibibigay na po natin kung ano ang nararapat sa bawat SEA-K
association (We can now distribute what is due to each SEA-K association),”
Alba said.
Alba added the capital funds will assist the beneficiaries to
put up their own source of income such as small business, or to support their
livelihood such as farming or fishing.
SEA-K associations, each composed of 25 members, were
established in August 2012 through the initiative of DSWD-ARMM. Sec. Alba noted
that the program was funded by the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program
(SLP), which has a total funding of P120 million.
Eighty seven (87) associations in the provinces of
Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur received funding of P250,000 on January 20, in a
ceremony held at the ARMM Compound here. Close to 400 more SEA-K associations
from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are set to receive similar
grants this year.
To be able to receive capital funds, associations must submit
a livelihood proposal to be validated by the Regional Program Management Office
of DSWD-ARMM. Sec. Alba noted that most of the proposals submitted were small
businesses as well as fishing and farming-related projects.
The target recipients of the SLP are Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF) members, and beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the flagship initiative of DSWD-ARMM.
(BPI/APB/PIA-10)
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