40 marginalized individuals now budding entrepreneurs

CITY OF TARLAC – Some 40 marginalized individuals from Concepcion, Tarlac are now budding entrepreneurs, thanks to a P400,000 livelihood assistance they recently received from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The livelihood assistance, in form of 20 Negosyo sa Kariton (Negokart) Projects and 20 Kabuhayan Starter KITS, were distributed at the premises of the Municipal Government of Concepcion.

The DOLE Tarlac Field Office and the local government of Concepcion, through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) initiated the livelihood assistance.

DOLE Regional Director Ana Dione reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the livelihood recipients comprised 20 various ambulant vendors and 20 women cosmetology TESDA graduates.

Concepcion Mayor Andres Lacson, DOLE Tarlac Field Office head Efren Reyes, and PESO Manager Archie David led the distribution of Negokarts and Starter KITS.

DOLE Tarlac Field Office’s Labor and Employment Officers David Estanislao and Jaimond Matulac, and SRS Coordinator Desire Julian were also present to assist the livelihood distribution.

Dione said that the bicycle-assisted Negokarts are enhanced roving food cart businesses such as street foods, kakanin, fruits and vegetables, banana que, and sari-sari store, among others.

The Starter kits, on the other hand, are start-up cosmetology-related businesses which include manicure, pedicure, foot spa, massage therapy, hair-cutting, and other health and wellness businesses.

The local government, for its part, provided its counterpart assistance through an Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT) for all beneficiaries to ensure the proper management and sustenance of their businesses.

The livelihood intervention is the best Christmas gift to welcome the start of the new year says ambulant vendor Rozelia Salas on behalf of her cobenefi ci ar i es.

“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa DOLE sa ipinagkaloob ninyong tulong pangkabuhayan para sa akin at sa mga kababayan ko dito sa Concepcion. Ito po ang pinaka magandang regalong natanggap namin sa panahon ng kapaskuhan at ito ay isang magandang simula para sa bagong taon,” Salas said.

Salas, a mother of five residing at the Gawad Kalinga Resettlement Pitabungan, walks with her basket under the heat of the sun in selling “meryenda” foods.

With her new Negokart, it will be more convenient for Salas to sell her products and can now earn more from her usual day’s take home pay.

“Sa totoo lang po, napakahirap magtinda sa pabagobagong klima ng panahon, lalo na’t ako po ay naglalakad lamang bitbit-bitbit ang aking basket. Sa tulong po ng negokart na ito na may kasama pang bisikleta, mas mapapadali na po ang aking trabaho,” Salas said.

TESDA cosmetology-graduate Kate Evaristo also expressed her warmest thanks to the DOLE for the starter kit she received and assured she would put it to good use.

“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat, sampo ng aking kasamahan para sa starter kit na ito. Asahan po ninyo na ito po ay aking pagyayamanin,” she said.

The Negokart Project and Kabuhayan Starter KITS are livelihood flagship programs of the DOLE under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).