The municipality of Ayungon received approximately P1.6 million for 240 beneficiaries, followed by Bindoy with P1.5 million for 230 baeneficiaries, P588 thousand for Jimalalud for 85 beneficiaries, P1.7million for La Libertad who had the biggest number of recipients at 269, Tayasan with P954 thousand for 140 beneficiaries and Vallehermoso who received the biggest loan at P2 million for 260 beneficiaries, said Ails Lariba, DSWD Region 7 information officer in a media release.
For more than three years, these 1,224 Pantawid Pamilya members have been consistent in complying with the conditions of the program which includes pre-natal and post natal care, immunization, weighing and attendance to family development sessions in order for them to continually receive the P500 per month cash grant for health and an 85 percent monthly school attendance for their children to receive the P300 per month per child allocation for education but limited to a maximum of three children only, Lariba said.
The interest-free loan from SEAK gives each of these beneficiaries a chance to be economically active through small scale entrepreneurship they themselves identified to undertake. Some of the identified businesses include hog and livestock raising, additional capital for existing sari-sari stores, a barbecue stand, among others.
Various trainings, capability building workshops in making business proposals, basic bookkeeping, financial management and most of all saving strategies were given to them as a pre-requisite of their loan. The opportunity provided by the SEAK program puts these identified poor in the subsistence level of survival.