Ipil, ZSP - October 25, 2017 was a meaningful day for 84 parent-beneficiaries of Learners or Students at Risk of Dropping-out (SARDO) for they have been chosen as beneficiaries for Kabuhayan Starter Kits.

The Department of Labor and Employment IX-Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (DOLE-ZSFO) in partnership with Department of Education Zamboanga Sibugay Schools Division (DepEd-ZSSD) and the Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay conducted a simple turn-over ceremony at the Surabay National High School. It was attended by personalities from Schools Division Office of DepEd Sibugay, DOLE ZSFO, Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay aptly represented by the Provincial PESO Manager, Ms. Nelsie P. Lazo, PESO Manager of RT Lim and PTA Federation President of RT Lim.

"The DOLE and DepEd in Zamboanga Sibugay have a long standing partnership in career guidance, employment education and labor market information. This project of providing starter kits to parent-beneficiaries is one of our ways to mitigate the looming cases of child labor in the area," Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo said.

To further concretize the partnership, DOLE and DepEd worked together to provide Kabuhayan Starter Kits to the beneficiaries who were identified through the efforts of the guidance counselors headed by Dr. Monalisa Babiera.

The beneficiaries were awarded with various Kabuhayan Starter Kits on carpentry, electrical servicing, cosmetology, welding, computer servicing, masonry, aircon cleaning and barber servicing.

The Kabuhayan Starter Kits Project falls under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) that aims to provide assistance to the informal sector or marginalized self-employed workers with insufficient income. The program is a form of DOLE intervention that seeks to contribute to poverty reduction through promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises.

Under the DILEEP, qualified beneficiaries are given tools and jigs instead of cash assistance. This way, the DOLE is assured that the aid given to beneficiaries will be put to use.

Indeed the parent-beneficiaries and their children were all donning wonderful smiles on their faces as they felt genuine concern from the government for their welfare. At the end of the day, all came together to guarantee a brighter future for SARDOs/Learners.

With reports from Cory P. Fallorin, LEO II, ZSFO