MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Islamic Relief Philippines has started the distribution of cash grants to beneficiaries of its Sustaining Transformative and Resilient Initiatives in Vulnerable Communities (STRIVEC) in Ranao Philippines project.
The project aims to provide livelihood support to 60 self-help groups (SHGs) in six villages of Ditsaan-Ramain town which served as host communities of displaced families from Marawi City.
Six groups that have completed the documentary requirements were the first batch of SHGs that received the P50,000 cash aid on Saturday, October 8.
"Ito yung seed capital nila to start their own business or restart their own business after nila mawalan ng livelihood during the siege sa Marawi [this is their seed capital to start their own business or restart their own business after they lost their livelihood during the siege in Marawi]," said project officer Joy Daman.
Apart from the cash grant, the Islamic Relief, he said, will also extend skills training to some SHGs whose chosen enterprises or businesses are skills-based such as dressmaking, catering services, poultry production, cakes and pastry, and salon or barber shop.
"Itong skills training kaakibat nito ay magprovide tayo ng starter kit package after the training. But they can start immediately their business (with the P50,000) at itong starter kit ay pang augment," he further said.
Daman further disclosed that a series of capacity-building interventions such as Islamic micro-financing, product development, and e-commerce are also slated as part of the project. "Yung finale nila ay trade fair na hopefully maconduct natin [their finale is a trade fair that hopefully we can conduct] during Ramadhan next year," he added.
Prior to the release of cash grants, the SHGs underwent financial literacy and enterprise development training facilitated by the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism.
"This is what we have been saying long before that the livelihood aspect of this project is a complete package. There's the financial literacy, the cash grant, the skills training, market and product development, and also linking with the other allied industries," said Islamic Relief Area Programme Manager Sittie Jamairah Disomimba.
She said they will monitor the SHGs and see how they are performing. Mentoring and additional training will be provided to the SHGs needing such services.
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| Rohainie Rashid counts the P50,000 cash grant her self-help group received from Islamic Relief Philippines as part of the livelihood component of the Sustaining Transformative and Resilient Initiatives in Vulnerable Communities (STRIVEC) in Ranao Philippines project. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur) |
Beneficiaries of the program conveyed their thanks to Islamic Relief for the project.
"Lahat kami sa grupo ay nagpapasalamat. Masayang-masaya kami,malaking tulong po ito para sa amin. Nagkaroon ng chance yung mga kasama ko na at least magkaroon ng livelihood [all of us in the group are grateful. We are very happy, this is a big help for us. My companions had a chance to at least have a livelihood]," said Rohainie Rashid.
Meanwhile, Daman called on the beneficiaries to take good care of the economic assistance. "This is not just one-time, big-time support. We still have series of activities at sana alagaan nila itong livelihood na ito kasi this is for them at saka sa kanilang mga pamilya. Alagaan lang nila para masustain [we still have series of activities and I hope they take care of this livelihood because this is for them and also for their families. They just take care of it to sustain it]," he said. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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