By: Ralph Raffy R. Daisog

Sustainable Livelihood Program - The SLP of the Department of the Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted its CY 2024 Year-Starter Planning Workshop in Clark, Pampanga last 5 - 9 February 2024. The said planning workshop was attended by Division Chiefs of Promotive Services, SLP Regional Program Coordinators (RPC), Special Concerns Officers (SCO), Regional Monitoring and Evaluation for Operations (RMEO), and Regional Monitoring and Evaluation for Finance (RMEF) of all DSWD Field Offices. Some of the objectives of the said workshop were to discuss the targets of the program for current fiscal year and present the implementation arrangements of the program following its new guidelines - Memorandum Circular 07 series of 2023 or also known as the “Revised Comprehensive Guidelines for Sustainable Livelihood Program”.

Undersecretary Monina Josefina H. Romualdez of Operations Group commenced the activity by expressing her gratitude for the efforts and dedication exerted by the field offices in attaining the the 2023 program’s accomplishments. She also mentioned that this event will be a great venue to discuss and share good implementation practices of the regions which will be beneficial to other regions.

“Kailangan palakasin lalo ang pagpapakilala ng mga success stories ng ating program beneficiaries. I-mainstream natin ang kanilang success stories, this is what Sec. Rex (Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian) wanted for SLP.” underscored by Assistant Secretary Florentino Y. Loyolo Jr. of Specialized Program under Operations Group. 

Asec. Loyola stressed that promoting to a wider audience the SLP’s program participant success stories play a vital role in making the program known on community level.

As of 31 December 2023, the SLP obligated a total amount of 6,321,060,856.00 or 86.17% obligation financial rate which served 219,599 program participants. For FY 2024, the program’s financial allocation is 7,631,091,000.00 for 305,393 program target participants. Due to the increase of the budget allocation received by the program, Director Edmon B. Monteverde mentioned that program can now accommodate more program beneficiaries.

One of the SLP’s Thrust and Priorities for 2024 is to institutionalize SLP which will lead the program to cater more and other sectors. Through its Livelihood Sustainability Plan, the program participants will undergo a 5-phase business and employment development wherein they will capacitated through a ladderized learning approach and linked to a wider menu of partners.

The workshop planning concluded on the submission of the SLP-Regional Program Management Offices’ Quarterly Commitment Plan for 2024.