DAVAO CITY (DSWD XI) – Some 600 beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) will convene at SM Ecoland Annex on Thursday, March 14 for the slated cash payout and livelihood fund turnover.

UCT recipients are from barangays 1 to 40 of Davao City while SLP beneficiaries come from the three districts of Davao City.

UCT is the tax subsidy provided for under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to help the poor cushion the adverse economic impact of the law for three years starting in 2018.

To 10 million households and individuals in the country, UCT provided cash subsidy of Php200 a month in 2018, Php300 in 2019 and 2020. Thus, beneficiaries received Php2,400.00 in 2018 and will get Php3,600.00 in 2019 and 2020.

Of the 10 million, 4.4 are enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; 2.6 are social pension senior citizen beneficiaries; and the remaining three million come from DSWD’s Listahanan.

In Davao Region, UCT targeted recipients are the 255,300 Pantawid Pamilya households; 254,526 social pension beneficiaries; and the 97,480 poor families under Listahanan.

Meanwhile, SLP aims to enhance the capabilities of poor Filipino households and individuals by strengthening their skills, competencies, abilities, and resources in accessing income-generating opportunities to help improve their socio-economic well-being.

To be launched on Thursday are 26 Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) covering 544 beneficiary-families with a funding of Php 5.8 million.

To date, DSWD Davao Region has organized a total of 553 SLPAs with 11,693 beneficiaries and a livelihood fund of Php 153,173,215.00.

Projects undertaken by SLPAs include Hog Fattening, General Merchandise, Goat and Hog Raising, Buying and Selling Fruits, Corn Production, Dressmaking, Food and Fish Processing, Rice Production, Poultry Production, Rice Retailing, Carenderia, Cacao Nursery, Vegetable Production, Banana Production, Basket Making, RTW Buying and Selling, Meat Vending, Vegetable Vending, Bagoong Guisado Making, Food Vending, Motorcycle/Bicycle Parts and Accessories, Tables and Chairs Rentals, Fish Vending, Perfume and Liniment Production, among others. (DSWD)