The Department of Labor & Employment in the Province released some P500,000 recently to Lipayo Fishermen’s Association in Dauin town as livelihood assistance.
DOLE-NegOr Officer-in-Charge Vivencio Lagahid said that the latest beneficiary under the integrated livelihood program is a group of 38 fishers whose main livelihood is taking passenger-tourists in small boats to Apo Island.
The association used the financial grant to purchase large pump boat to ferry tourist- passengers to Apo and vice-versa as their livelihood and income employment, said Lagahid.
Apo Island is among the top best diving sites and tourist destinations in the world that is found off the coasts of Dauin and Zamboanguita in Negros Oriental.
Through the project, fishers’ income is expected to increase because of an improved facility that of a large tourist pump boat and other equipment that the DOLE grant can provide.
The DOLE has also released P3M in livelihood assistance to various fishermen’s associations in the province under its Integrated Services for Livelihood Advancement program.
Lagahid said about 20 organizations from the municipalities of Siaton, Sta. Catalina, Dauin, Valencia, Bacong, Sibulan and cities of Bayawan and Canlaon have received the livelihood assistance.
Aside from the project for the fishers, Lagahid said they are also providing post harvest facilities such as mini corn mill as support livelihood projects to farmers.
However, Lagahid said the DOLE has to monitor regularly the organizations after the release of funds to ensure the livelihood gets improved.
Under the agreement, the recipient-organization is also required to submit a status report on their project, said DOLE official. (MBCN/JCT/PIA)
