2 WV bets compete in DOLE’s Kabuhayan Awards national search
Two regional winners of Western Visayas made it to the national level search of the Kabuhayan Awards of the Department of Labor and Employment as part of the May 1 Labor Day celebration in the country.
In a recent press conference, DOLE 6 Director Aida Estabillo said the nominees are Ma. Zeny Belen of Isabela, Negros Occidental and the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina,Inc. of the municipality of Lambunao.
Kabuhayan Awards is a recognition given by DOLE to outstanding individuals and workers groups that implement DOLE- assisted livelihood projects. It has 6 categories namely Sikap Kabuhayan Award, Dagdag Kabuhayan Award, Kabalikat Kabuhayan Award, Kanayunang Kabuhayan Award, Isla Kabuhayan Award, and Kabataang Kabuhayan Award.
Criteria for the selection of the DOLE Kabuhayan Awardees include: socio-economic viability, 10%; sustainable market, 30%; financial viability, 30%; sustainable production/efficient use of resources, 15%, and effective organization and management, 15%.
Winners will be announced during the national awarding which will be held on May 1, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Belen has been nominated for the Sikap Kabuhayan Award which recognizes outstanding individual worktrepreneurs who have demonstrated entrepreneurial characteristics and served as role models for emerging entrepreneurs.
The Lambunao Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina, Inc was nominated under the Kabalikat Kabuhayan Award category for outstanding women’s group projects that demonstrated women power in business.
Estabillo said Belen sells ice water and halo-halo before she qualified to avail of the P5,000 financial assistance from DOLE which she used to expand her business into a carinderia. She also sells ukay-ukay merchandise during weekend. Now, Belen is earning about P3,000–P4,000 from her carinderia and P700 – P800 a day from selling ukay-ukay merchandise.
The Lambunao Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina, Inc is into garment and tailoring business and has likewise, availed training and financial assistance from DOLE amounting to almost a million peso which was used to purchase sewing equipments and other tools.
Estabillo said the livelihood assistance for workers in the informal economy and the income augmentation program for workers in the formal economy are part of the government’s efforts to enhance the income-earning capacities of workers to augment families’ income in order to weather the adverse effects of challenging times such as the global financial crisis. (PIA)
