The provincial government of Romblon has expressed its commitment to assist civil society organizations (CSOs) and other associations in their business ventures aimed at improving the livelihood of their members.
At the Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall meeting on May 31, Romblon Provincial Public Employment Service Officer Ronald Geronimo announced that the government is ready to accept project proposals from CSOs for funding by the appropriate national government agencies.
“The doors of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are open to CSOs seeking assistance for their projects,” Geronimo stated.
According to Geronimo, the provincial government has submitted nearly 300 project proposals to DOLE for evaluation and potential funding under the agency's livelihood program. He added that the government needs proposals from associations and groups to understand their needs.
“We can do more as long as our CSOs submit their proposals. It's a matter of proposal. As the DILG always says, something that is not in writing is not existing,” according to Geronimo.
Under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Program, individual beneficiaries can receive a cash grant of up to P30,000, while groups and associations can receive up to P1.5 million.
In addition to DOLE's livelihood program, the DTI also offers a livelihood program for entrepreneurs and associations. The Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo Sa Barangay allows beneficiaries to avail of livelihood kits worth P5,000 to P8,000 for individuals or members.
Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall, or Dagyaw, is a participatory governance platform that aims to foster transparency and accountability by facilitating direct engagement between the government and the public. It was organized by the regional offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Budget and Management, and the Philippine Information Agency.
