Tacloban City—The provincial government of Eastern Samar has continued the distribution of its livelihood assistance to its beneficiaries, following the province’s flagship project dubbed as “Proyekto 25.”
Provincial administrator George Erroba said the distribution is part of the government’s “inclusive poverty solution” to its constituents.
“Proyekto 25 is our platform for development. It served as the backbone, supporting the growth of Eastern Samar for the five years,” said Erroba.
“We believe that if we reached the target of lowering the 46.3 percent poverty incidence in the province into 25 percent, Eastern Samar will change its direction,” he added.
The province’s “Proyekto 25” focuses on the development of agri-fishery, tourism, governance, and health in the province.
At least 9,281 families in Eastern Samar have recently benefitted from various livelihood assistance.
The province said it has distributed 101 gilts/sows with feeds, 491 piglets, 11,695 native chickens, 982 ducks, 515 goats, 5 egg-laying machines with 50 hens, 1, 200 broiler chicks with feeds, 28 tractors, and about 4, 371 sacks of fertilizers with other data to be accounted yet.
The livelihood assistance amounted to P16,503,364 was given to 1 670 Household-Based Organizations (HBO) comprising 9,281 families.
An HBO is composed of up to five families who are related to each other and living close to each other.
“We prepare the communities. This is a very important component of the project. We’ve been doing this for more than a year,” said Floro Acaba, in-charge of the community development and public affairs office.
“Proyekto 25” is a “social preparation” for the various anti-poverty efforts of the government, Acaba added.
“The success of the project is not an overnight event. The people should own the project in order to succeed,” he said.
“Government believes that there can be no meaningful progress or development without the community at the heart (of the project),” Acaba added.
