Amelita Aron, one of the 25 graduates and a Pantawid Pamilya recipient of Poblacion Maragusan receives her Certificate of Competency on Organic Agriculture Production from Dr. Frank Dela Peña, ACES Polytechnic College President during the graduation rites in Poblacion Maragusan, Compostela Valley. Also in photo are [from right] DSWD Livelihood Coordinator Arlene L. Morpus and Municipal Councilor Ulyssess Varona.

MARAGUSAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY – Some 25 survivors of Tropical Storm Pablo and Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries here recently graduated from Organic Agriculture Production at ACES Polytechnic College in Panabo City.

These farmer-beneficiaries who lost their livelihood source after typhoon Pablo were provided an opportunity for a vocational and technical enhancement training through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Half of the training cost was sponsored by DSWD while the other half came as scholarship grant from the school.

The training which covers 232 hours aims at generating employment and income for the recipients as well as mobilizing them to cultivate and produce healthy and environment-friendly crops and vegetables.

“This is the first batch of Pantawid recipients who trained with ACES Polytechnic College. Earlier, DSWD also facilitated the same training for typhoon survivors of Monkayo. Definitely, we are doubly happy as three councillors have already committed to extend financial assistance to these graduates so they can pursue what they have learned and replicate this in their community,” said Director Priscilla N. Razon.

DSWD and ACES Polytechnic College will continue assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) or disaster victims and other disadvantaged individuals by giving them access to quality education and training for non-degree course appropriate to their individual capacities and relevant to the immediate needs of their communities, Director Razon added.

SLP is one of the poverty-reduction programs of DSWD along with Kalahi-CIDSS and Pantawid Pamilya.

It aims to capacitate and develop the entrepreneurial and socio-economic skills of poor households through income-generating opportunities, enhancing their access to basic social services. (DSWD)