Bontoc PWD’s receive livelihood grant

BONTOC, Mountain Province – In the ensuing months, an organization of Person with Disabilities ( PWDs) in Bontoc will be selling wheelchairs and accessories including repair services.

This, following the awarding of check amounting to P478,868 by the Department of Labor and Employment – Mountain Province Field Office (DOLEMPFO) represented by Provincial Director Apollo Luspian to the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) represented by Mayor Franklin Odsey on October 13, 2020, at the Mayor’s Office, Bontoc Municipal Capitol.

The Bontoc LGU, through the Public Employment and Services Office, initiated and facilitated the preparation and submission of a project proposal to the DOLE entitled “Wheelchairs and Accessories Trading and Repair Services” of Layad Organization, a group composing 27 PWDs in Bontoc.

DOLE Provincial Director Apollo Luspian said the livelihood assistance provided to the recipient is lodged under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

The program seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce the vulnerability to risks of the working poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers, either through emergency employment, and promotion of entrepreneurship and

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community enterprises. It is implemented through DOLE’s Accredited Co-Partners (ACP) which is responsible for the delivery of services to the beneficiaries.

Odsey who personally received the financial grant for Layad Organization expressed his gratitude to DOLE for continuously assisting various organizations in Bontoc to include those in the vulnerable sector and capacitating them to generate income and augment the financial constraints of the member-beneficiaries.

With this, the mayor challenged the recipientorganization to manage their livelihood project wisely for it to prosper.

Sylvia Falag-ey, Layad Organization president expressed the profound gratitude of their organization to the DOLE, Bontoc LGU, and the Office of the Congressman – Mountain Province for the realization of the livelihood assistance.

She remarked that it is the first time for their organization to receive a livelihood grant from the government. She added that they have chosen the project, Wheelchairs and Accessories Trading and Repair Services” as there are no suppliers in Mountain Province of said equipment and materials.

To ensure sustainability of the project, the DOLE –MPFO has partnered with the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) for the members of Layad Organization to undergo Entrepreneurial Management Training.

Jenelyn Caluza, labor and employment officer II, mentioned as counterpart, Bontoc LGU has earmarked an amount for the conduct of the training and shall conduct monitoring on the implementation of the project.