A local manicure-pedicure association, known as the Maniped of Mati Vendors SLP Association, was awarded a substantial grant of P300,000 for a livelihood project by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program. The check was handed over to the association during a simple ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol on April 29, 2024.

Board Member Stephen Paul “Popong” Uy, who represented Governor Niño Uy and led the awarding of the check, congratulated the association while emphasizing the value of government support to grassroots endeavors that promote economic resilience and empowerment. He lauded the DSWD as one of the provincial government’s active partners in helping uplift communities and promote self-sustainability and economic independence, especially during these challenging times.

Ms. Juvy Abarca, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Head, highlighted the grant’s importance in catalyzing transformative change beyond the immediate beneficiaries. She explained that the grant acknowledges the potential ripple effect of such initiatives on the broader community.

She said the impact of this grant extends beyond the immediate beneficiaries, creating a multiplier effect that stimulates economic activity and fosters social cohesion. As the group expands its operations and reinvests in the community, it creates employment opportunities and nurtures local talent.

The association’s president, Vivarlyn A. Dumaom, expressed her gratitude to the DSWD and the provincial government for the assistance received. The association, which has 20 members, plans to use the grant to establish a merchandise store.

The DSWD, as the funding agency, says that this livelihood support not only recognizes local communities’ creativity, resourcefulness, and potential but also aims to empower individuals to chart their own path toward prosperity and sustainable development. KLD-PIO/Photos by Jerome Bandigan