The Department of Labor and Employment has allocated some PHP4.1 million in additional livelihood aid to vulnerable sectors in Negros Oriental.

Rubie Cempron, Labor and Employment Officer III and Livelihood Focal Person of the DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office, told the Philippine News Agency on Monday that this is part of the agency’s Livelihood Integrated Program to help vulnerable sectors cope with their day-to-day activities.

Earlier this month, Cempron said the agency has released over PHP409,000 in aid to 14 former rebels (FRs) to help them sustain their livelihood projects such as egg layers, fishing implements, carabao raising and production, among others.

“One requirement for the FRs to qualify for DOLE assistance is that they have already been enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP,” she said.

Two persons with disabilities (PWDs) were given assistance for massage services and a self-operated car wash while a person deprived of liberty was given a sari-sari store start-up of more than PHP50,000.

The DOLE is set to release this month or early next month over PHP200,000 in livelihood assistance to seven PDLS for “kakanin” (rice cake), canvass printing and retailing of rice & agrivet products, among others.

More than PHP3.4 million worth of various livelihood projects will also be handed over to 118 parents of child laborers in the province, Cempron said.

The DOLE in Negros Oriental earlier said from January to June 2024, it had released more than PHP5.1 million to 326 beneficiaries, five associations, and 19 individuals, for various livelihood projects. (PNA)