Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chairman Undersecretary Elpidio Jordan Jr., on Friday stressed the importance of empowering the urban poor to achieve viable livelihoods, citing the P6.4-million allocation for 429 beneficiaries of the Marcos administration’s sustainable livelihood program.
The government should not only focus on providing much-needed services to the country’s marginalized and underprivileged sectors but must target livelihood programs for the poor through constant work and coordination with other government entities that promote the welfare and interests of every Filipino household, Jordan said.
“This is the surest way for us to support and be successful in our beloved President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of our poor countrymen,” he added.
In November, 16 sustainable livelihood program associations representing over 400 beneficiaries received P6.435 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development as seed capital for their chosen enterprises.
According to PCUP Visayas area coordinator Julito Layon, the beneficiaries went through a meticulous process by the DSWD to pass and qualify based on criteria set by the agency in order to receive their startup funds.
The ceremonial pay-out to the recipients was held in Barangay Opao in Mandaue City.
