The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region through its Sustainable Livelihood program (SLP) has distributed P10,080,000 in livelihood assistance to 504 small business owners from Guinobatan, Albay, helping them get back on their feet after sustaining drastic livelihood losses due to Severe Tropical Storm ‘Kristine.’
The grantees, who come from 39 barangays in the municipality, each received a P20,000 livelihood settlement grant that they can use to rebuild or establish microenterprises. The DSWD Bicol distributed the said aid during a payout on July 11, 2025 at the Ilawod Covered Court.
Among the small businesses that were disrupted or shut down by the typhoon in the said town are sari-sari stores, handicraft making, food vending, hog raising, rice retailing, and printing shops.
Anabelle Aris, a resident of Brgy. Mapaco, Guinobatan, Albay who crafts abaca products for a living, thanked the DSWD for the livelihood aid. She recalled how the typhoon caused abaca fiber prices to soar, and with little capital to move around, she went out of business for months.
“Salamat at may puhunan na. Salamat sa DSWD sa tulong na binigay nila, makakapagstock na ako ng materyales, isang bilihan nalang,” Aris said.
Under the leadership of Regional Director Norman Laurio, the DSWD Bicol through the SLP and its other social welfare programs continues to provide swift and targeted assistance to typhoon-stricken Bicolanos across the region, helping them regain financial stability and fostering resilience among them.
These efforts are in line with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directive to promote disaster-resilient communities by ensuring that social protection interventions are swiftly extended to Filipinos affected by disasters and other risks.
They also reflect DSWD Bicol’s commitment to continually strengthening its disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts as called for by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Source: DSWD Bicol Region V- Press Release