President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of various government assistance during his visit to Pampanga on Monday, handing over support to students, micro and small entrepreneurs, and local farmers associations.
Among those distributed were livelihood grants from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), extending P1 million for the Department’s Tulong Pangkabuhayan for the Municipality of San Simon and P1.2 million for the Municipality of Minalin.
Under DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program, P1.38 million financial assistance was extended to 301 beneficiaries, and under the Government Internship Program (GIP), P611,000 stipend was released to 140 interns.
Eleven Negosyo sa Kariton, or Nego-Kart, worth P30,000 each were also distributed in addition to the seven Kabuhayan starter kits worth P30,000 each.
From the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the President extended P68,000-training support fund to 25 shielded metal arch welding NC1 scholars.
A training support fund amounting to P91,350 intended for 18 organic agriculture production NC2 scholars was also released during the event.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), currently headed by the President, also handed over financial grants under the Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program, benefitting various associations in Pampanga: Sta. Ana Multipurpose Cooperative, P6.8 million; Mandasig Farmers Association Inc. (Candaba Pampanga), P4.2 million; and, Vizal Sto. Nino Rice and Livestock Farmers Association (Candaba), P2.2 million.
In support of the Rice Sufficiency Program, the DA turned over P134.2 million to the Province of Pampanga.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through President Marcos, also released a livelihood assistance amounting to Php190,400 to 16 beneficiaries under its Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa Program.
In addition, the Small Business Corp. extended P6.35 million under its micro multi-purpose loan program to seven borrowers/entrepreneurs.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, distributed financial assistance amounting to P1.5 million under the Assistance to Individuals under Crisis Situations (AICS) Program.
The agency also released P180,000 to 12 beneficiaries of the sustainable livelihood program (SLP) in addition to the P3,000 and family food packs given to 500 beneficiaries.
Marcos also visited a Job Fair organized by DOLE in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pampanga, the Pampanga Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Pampanga PESO Managers Federation. Around 20 local employers participated in the Job Fair, offering around 3,000 local jobs.
Jobs openings include those for service crews, production workers, call center agents, support staff, clerks, and encoders, among others. Six government agencies also joined the job fair by providing allied services requirements.
Based on the latest Philippine Statistics Authority data, 48.26 million Filipinos were employed as of May 2023, 2.18 million higher than the 46.08 million employed persons in May last year.
The country’s unemployment and underemployment rates dropped in the same period. PND
