To ensure that the government's livelihood interventions continue and are able to make a lasting impact in terms of increased self-employment and productivity, Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday awarded ten computers and one photocopying machine worth P373,400 to I-Caf?' Computer Services, a livelihood project of 23 graduates of technical courses of Ave Maria College in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.

Baldoz, who is in Zamboanga City for an official visit, said the livelihood award improves the opportunity for the graduates to earn income through self-employment, an alternative to wage employment.

In awarding the livelihood grant, Baldoz urged the DOLE Regional Office No. 9 to continue strengthening the implementation not only of the DOLE livelihood program, but also of the emergency employment in the region, particularly for those who are victims of crisis situations.

"Our objective is to assist displaced workers and community groups in developing sustainable enterprises right in their communities so they may earn incomes through wage and self-employment," Baldoz said.

The I-Caf?' Computer Services is a project of 23 graduates of a two-year course in Associate in Computer and Information Technology from Ave Maria College. They decided to venture into a computer service business to offer Internet surfing; encoding/printing; animation; hardware and software repair; and photocopy services.

"During its one-month dry-run operation, the I-Caf? earned a net income of P2,412.56 for its internet business and P4,914.56 for its photocopying services. The association was also able to employ a shop-supervisor, who receives an honorarium of P3,000 per month, which means this early the business is already contributing to employment generation," Cano explained to Secretary Baldoz.

End/Krs (with reporting from Iris Tangcalagan, LCO RO9)