Marawi residents among 250 recipients of P5-M DOLElivelihood aid in Bulacan

CITY OF MALOLOS – Some 12 Maranaos are starting their lives anew as budding entrepreneurs thanks to the livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment ( DOLE) .

The beneficiaries, who migrated to Bulacan because of the “Marawi Crisis,” are among 250 Bulakenyorecipients of a P5,000,000 DOLE livelihood aid recently distributed in the province.

The livelihood provision, in form of Negosyo sa Kartion (Nego Karts), was initiated by the Provincial Government of Bulacan, through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and DOLE Central Luzon.

DOLERegional Director Atty. Ana Dione reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that all beneficiaries, including the Maranaos, each received bicycleassisted Nego Karts.

“We are privileged to be part of the rehabilitation process for the people from Marawi City. As we all now, the “Summer Capital of the South” was under siege for almost 5 months destroying lives and businesses, leaving the entire city in rubbles,” Dione said.

“In our small way, we are hopeful that our intervention would enable them to start a new beginning and transform their newly-given livelihood projects into sustainable sources of income for their families,” she added.

Bulacan Provincial PESO Manager Elizabeth Alonzo said that the Nego Karts that the Maranaos and others received are start-up ambulant street food businesses like fish balls, kikiams, and squid balls.

“We are thankful for our strong partnerships with the DOLE, and just like before, more marginalized Bulakenyos have been engaged and empowered to venture and succeed into small businesses,” Alonzo said.

“For this livelihood intervention, we are honored to have this unique opportunity to extend our convergence programs with the DOLE by helping some of the relatives of our fellow Bulakenyos who reside in Marawi City. In this time of healing and rebuilding, we are hopeful that our small part in helping our Maranao brothers will enable them to move ahead with a brighter future,” she furthered.

Alonzo, who pitched in for Bulacan Governor Wilhemino Sy-Alvarado during the awarding rites, said that all beneficiaries undergone Entrepreneurship Development Training to ensure the proper management of their Nego Karts.

Maranao beneficiaries include Sadat Disimban, Alinor Dipatuan, Yahya Yasser, Abdulsamad Natangcop, Nassar Dilna, Amar Ibrahim, Abdulgani Sambawa, Intezhar Ramos, Ryan Usgay, Hanzalee Noor, Najer Pahme, and Norani Yunos.

Government officials who facilitated the livelihood distribution include Bulacan 1st District Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, DOLE Bulacan Field Office head May Lynn Gozun, and Bulacan Provincial PESO Manager Elizabeth Alonzo.

The provision of livelihood assistance was distributed at the observation of this year’s Women’s Month festivities anchoring the theme “We Make Change Work for Women.”

— Jerry Borja/ DOLE-3 LCO