Unemployed and self-employed people who live within Zamboanga City had an opportunity to better their lives by availing of Starter Kits from the Department of Labor and Employment, with their livelihood projects ranging from food processing, food production and service works such as welding and dressmaking, carpentry, vulcanizing, auto mechanics.

To date, the DOLE-Zamboanga City Field Office has released P2.210 Million to 221 beneficiaries. The livelihood initiative forms part of the Anti-Poverty Program of the government as enrolled under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program.

DOLE Chief LEO Ian A. Lahi, and coordinator Sylvia delos Santos noted that Zamboanga City residents falling below minimum wage income bracket are poised to benefit from the project which constitutes two components, provision of materials to start their business and marketing assistance. This initiative also attempts to address the problems of lack of income opportunities for those who cannot enter the formal or wage employment sector.

"The DOLE also adopts a concerted approach to ensure the sustainability of the livelihood undertakings of beneficiaries by constantly monitoring their progress and referring them to agencies to upgrade their skills", Ian Lahi said.

The benefits of the program have been identified not just as an income generating undertaking, but also to ensure that they do not fall back into the poverty.

Under the Starter Kit program, each beneficiary receives materials costing P10,000. The beneficiary also gets to choose his/her own livelihood project depending on their skills and interests.

Chief LEO Lahi also revealed that DOLE in Zamboanga City hopes to release the remaining kits worth P2.764.2 Million to 274 beneficiaries by November onwards.

Reported by Josephina A. Crudo, ZCFO