Workers and fisherfolk in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur received livelihood aid amounting to more than P2 million from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE Surigao del Sur Field Office awarded P700,000 worth of livelihood supplies for the MMDC-SU Rice Trading and Agrivet Supply project of the Marcventures Mining Development Corporation.

The corporation is a legitimate labor organization of the Supervisory Union Association of Professional Supervisory Officers and Technical Employees Union, affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

The DOLE also awarded P1.3 million worth of equipment to the NAGMAKAYO Fishermen Cooperative for its enterprise business named Production of Malunggay-Corn Coffee, Herbal Liniment Oil, and Ginamos na Amahong.

The projects were funded through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) and in partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cantilan.

The DILP is a DOLE flagship program that provides up to P50,000 worth of in-kind livelihood support to individual beneficiaries and up to P3 million for group beneficiaries.

According to the Labor agency, the awarding of livelihood packages is part of its continuing initiatives to empower workers in the formal and informal sectors by supporting sustainable enterprises that promote local development.

Aside from providing livelihood packages, DOLE vowed to continue to monitor and assist beneficiaries to ensure that government-funded initiatives are properly managed, generate long-term impact, and contribute to the overall development of local communities.