Digos City (DSWD XI) – 176 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Malalag, Kiblawan, and Matanao graduated during the Commencement Exercises in Security Services NC I on July 20 at Hotel de Crisbelle, Digos City.

The training was made possible through the partnership of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program and the Digos Security Training Institute, Inc.

The beneficiaries were full of gratitude as they proudly marched with their uniforms on.

“Usahay ra ni mahitabo (This rarely happens),” one of the leaders of the batch told everyone in his speech. “Libre na gani mi sa training, nahatagan pa gayud mi og uniform (The training costed us nothing yet we even received free uniforms).”

The participants were treated like royalties during the whole duration of the ceremony.

Ms. Margie B. Delima, Training Director and President of the institute, insisted they ended the training with a bang. “Kini usa ka selebrasyon sa ilang paglampos sa maong traning maong amo gyud kining gipabongga (This is a celebration of their success in the training that’s why we had opted to make it as grand as we can).”

The beneficiaries were not only thankful for the support of the government and the knowledge imparted by the training institute but also for the patience and sacrifices of their families all throughout the training period. “Dili lalim ang mga sakripisyo pero aduna ra gyud diay bili tanan (There were sacrifices but they were all worth it),” the leader added.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program is a community-based capacity building effort that seeks to improve the beneficiaries’ socio-economic status through Micro-Enterprise Development and Employment Facilitation. (DSWD)