BAMBAN, Tarlac – Some P200,000 worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO) were awarded to about 40 Aetas from the villages of San Martin and Mabilog here.
This developed as the DOLE started reaching out to marginalized individuals and groups. “We are reaching out to far fl ung areas of Central Luzon with the goal of providing more livelihood programs for marginalized individuals and groups,” DOLE regional director Ana Dione said.
The Aeta beneficiaries received their livelihood assistance in the form of 200 sacks of rice for their rice-retailing business.
The recipients also attended an Entrepreneurial Development Training to ensure that they can manage and transform their livelihood projects into formidable and sustainable businesses.
“We will strive hard to do our best in making our rice-retailing project sustainable for our community,” said Lina Sanchez, in behalf of the Aeta community.
