DAVAO City (DSWD XI) -The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has launched a total of 222 SLP Associations (SLPA) in Davao Region as of February 8.

A total of P62-million worth of capital assistance for the respective livelihood projects of the associations were turned over to the 4,337 participants of the program.

Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat, Assistant Regional Director for Operations Rebecca A. Santamaria, Promotive Services Division Chief Merlinda A. Paragamac, Regional Program Coordinator of SLP Maria Victoria N. Arancon, SLP provincial coordinators, and some members of the SLP Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) including some staffs from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) represented the Department to the launching and turnover ceremonies in the various municipalities and provinces in the region.

“The key to the successes of your projects is unity. Always coordinate with the other members in your association. Aspire to be transparent in all transactions which involve the grant awarded to you. Make use of the same to better the lives of your children,” RD Jabagat said during the ceremony in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental.

Some projects ventured by the livelihood groups are Rice-Retailing, Food Processing, Vegetable and Livestock Production, General Merchandise, and Meat and Fish Vending.

“The SLP empowers the communities by making them decide what their projects are. We also equip them with the skills suitable for their identified projects through the conduct of trainings by our field staffs,” said ARDO Santamaria.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program aims to provide access to resources that will improve the productivity of the participants’ already existing livelihood. It is open to every Filipino family especially the poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged. (DSWD)