In an effort to further enhance the socio-economic conditions of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) participants, the agency will host a two-day convention on August 28-29 at the Risen Garden inside the Quezon City Hall compound.
Dubbed as “Alunsina: The Sustainable Livelihood Program’s (SLP) Kabuhayan Convention”, the gathering will facilitate connections between SLP participants, industry experts, and potential business partners, with the goal of opening up new avenues for growth and expansion of SLP
participants.
“The event is also dedicated to celebrating the resilience, creativity, and success of its livelihood program participants across the country,” DSWD Asst. Secretary and agency spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.
The convention will feature products crafted by SLP participants from various regions, including buri and bamboo handicrafts, abaca-made items, pili accessories, rattan goods, nito-weaved products, and vegetable chips, among others.
These products that embody the creativity and cultural heritage of the participants will be on sale, with proceeds directly supporting their businesses.
Named after Alunsina, the all-powerful goddess of the eastern skies in Philippine mythology, the convention reflects the SLP’s mission to empower marginalized households and communities to cultivate and harvest their own successes, according to the DSWD spokesperson.
“Alunsina’s story of creation and transformation mirrors the journey of SLP participants who have taken the seeds of opportunity provided by the program and nurtured them into resilient, thriving, and sustainable livelihoods,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DSWD also invites the public and media to participate in this event and support the efforts and success of SLP participants.
“By attending and engaging with this convention, attendees will not only celebrate the success of SLP participants but also contribute to the continued growth of their livelihood, further amplifying the impact of the program,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
The SLP, being one of the core poverty reduction programs of the DSWD, continues to be the lead livelihood capability-building program of the Department for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities. It helps improve the participants socio-economic conditions by accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving, sustainable, and resilient livelihood.
The program operates in two tracks: Micro-Enterprise Development (MD) Track and Employment Facilitation (EF) Track.
The MD track focuses on the establishment of microenterprise through provision of financial capital, enhancement of skills, and building / re-building physical and natural assets.
The EF track provides assistance to qualified member/s of poor households who preferred employment rather than engaging in microenterprise.
