Legazpi City, Albay – The Nabuhay Agrivet Pamana Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) in Uson, Masbate received a two-wheeled tractor from two partner corporations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region on February 6, 2025 at the Municipal Agricultural Office, Uson, Masbate.
Valued at P58,240.00, the farming equipment is expected to help increase the SLPA’s vegetable production by easing land preparation for program participants. It was conferred by the Filminera Resources Corporation and Phil. Gold Processing & Refining Corp., two mining firms operating in the Masbate Gold Project site.
DSWD FO V Regional Director Norman Laurio together with representatives from the donor corporations and the Local Government Unit of Uson led the turnover of the tractor to the Nabuhay Agrivet Pamana SLPA, an 86-strong group comprising 71 women and 15 men.
In his message, Dir. Laurio reaffirmed the commitment of the DSWD FO V to empowering SLP program participants who are engaged in agricultural livelihoods, highlighting their significant contribution to the Department’s intensified efforts to promote food security in the country.
Ensuring availability, affordability, and accessibility of food is part of President Bongbong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
Dir. Laurio also thanked the DSWD’s partners and expressed hopes for their continued collaboration with the Department, echoing DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s call for intersectoral efforts to address the persistent problem of hunger and malnutrition in the country.
The turnover was part of the three-segment activity that also involved a Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) orientation and an SLPA feedbacking and evaluation session.
During the activity, Marideth S. Ladi, President of the Libertad Uson PAMANA SLPA whose members were also attending the orientation, expressed her gratitude to the DSWD. She noted the transformative impact of the livelihood programs being implemented by the agency in coordination with partners.
“Napakalaking tulong ng DSWD. Nakikita ko sa aming barangay, yung mga miyembrong kung dati ay walang pinagkakaabalahan, kung dati ay naghahanap lang ng mapaguutangan at walang naiisip na pwedeng pagkuhanan, ngayon, sa pamamagitan ng proyekto ng DSWD, natuto silang magtinda. Nahihikayat silang magkaroon din ng negosyo. Natututo silang kumita sa pamamagitan ng PAMANA SLPA,” she explained in Minasbate.
Ladi also thanked DSWD staff for regularly providing capacity-building activities that upskill program participants, helping them sustain and grow their livelihood initiatives.
“Maraming-maraming salamat po sa staff na lagi kaming inaalalayan. Maaaring kami ay kulang sa kaalaman, ngunit sa tulong ninyo, nagagawa naming mapalago ang proyekto dahil nandyan kayo, gumagabay sa amin. Maraming salamat sa bawat isa sa mga staff ng DSWD.” she added.
This partnership among the DSWD, the Filminera Resources Corporation, the Phil. Gold Processing & Refining Corp., and the Local Government Unit of Uson aligns with the Department’s goal of fostering multi-sectoral collaborations aimed not only at supporting the entrepreneurial journeys of SLP program participants, but also at helping them sustain their livelihood ventures beyond the program’s support.
The DSWD FO V commits to continually work with government and non-government partners that share its longstanding goal of driving socio-economic progress among underprivileged Bicolanos and reducing poverty incidence in the Bicol Region and beyond.
𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣, 𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙨𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙮𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙡 𝙨𝙖 𝘿𝙎𝙒𝘿, 𝙗𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙖.
(Source: Press Release- DSWD Region V)