Dozens of small entrepreneurs succeed in assisted livelihood ventures - DOLE

BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 5 (PNA) - Dozens of small entrepreneurs with capital outlay which did not exceed Php20,000 each have succeeded through government assistance in the past 11 months as indicated in their respective regular incomes.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional director Ana Dione, said the entrepreneurs were mostly the displaced vendors in the on-going clearing of the environs of the city public market. The DOLE has Php1.2 million for the program.

Most of the beneficiaries in the livelihood assistance program are listeners to a local mass-based radion station DZWX-"Bombo Radyo" where the DOLE usually air their people-oriented programs.

Dione especially cited Virginia Basilio of barangay City Camp, who started small quantity of retailed home-made peanut butter but now retailing to various stores and other outlets.

Also, the labor director also cited the success of Claridad Solis who was able to popularize the aromatic Ifugao brewed coffee which is sold to early rising vendors and drivers.

Dione said that the policy of government assistance to small scale industries as encouraged by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has further helped in almost eliminating non-employment program in the urban and semi-urban centers in the Cordillera region.