Product exhibits help DSWD’s livelihood beneficiaries in Central Visayas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY --Likhang Hiraya Product Display and Exhibit, a product display and photo exhibit of the beneficiaries of the livelihood assistance grants (LAG) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7)-Regional Field Office VII under its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has helped augment the income and product marketing of some 22 beneficiaries in Central Visayas.

According to DSWD-7 regional information officer Leah Quintana that the Likhang Hiraya: Pangarap Patungong PagSibol, an SLP product display and photo exhibit aims to draw engagement to the public to the program via the visual medium of photography and the actual product display leading to an increase awareness of the audience about SLP and the learning entrepreneurship experiences acquired by the grantees from the various livelihood programs.

Quintana said that Likhan Hiraya started in 2019 and it has already gained the support of its SLP/LAG beneficiaries acquiring some total sales of P327,552.00 with P108,851 total sales in 2019 and P218,701 in 2020 with 14 participants from SLP and eight from LAG and those from the AVRC training center.

Products on display/sale include Nito baskets and planter from Bohol and Cebu; Ornamental plants, succulents; Fresh fish, crabs, seashells, live chickens and Eggs (chicken and quail); Vegetables, Spices; delicacies including torta,bingka dawa, palagsing, chicharon, banana chips, puto balanghoy and biko; Carcar Carcar slippers/sandals and other accessories; lechon, native vinegar and many more including detergent, fruit juices and baked products.

“We are privileged to be invited to display our products in the Likhang Hiraya of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).  The pandemic has been rough to us, small entrepreneurs, but joining this activity gives us hope and links us to possible markets,” said Junjun Densing, one of the participants of the Likhang Hiraya Product Display and Exhibit.

Densing is a resident of Barangay Canlusong, Sogod, Cebu, produces beautifully crafted planters made of indigenous materials. A Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) beneficiary.  He could not stop thanking the SLP for inviting him to the Likhang Hiraya Exhibit and he hopes this kind of activity will continue for as long as there are small entrepreneurs like him.

Zenaida Labarejos, a beneficiary of the Livelihood Assistance Grant of SLP expressed her gratitude that she has this opportunity because according to her they are looking for buyers of their products and the Likhang Hiraya has given them hope.  She is a plant grower and seller from Barangay Pamutan, Cebu City.

“Ang ayuda nakatabang gyud namo kay nakapalit mi og daghang klase sa ornamental plants nga gitanom namo. Mao man kini ang trend karong quarantine.” (The assistance helps us because we were able to buy different kinds of ornamental plants to grow. It is the trend during this quarantine),” Labarejos said.

Labarejos and Densing are LAG beneficiaries of the response and recovery programs of the Bayanihan ACT 2 implemented by the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  

The small entrepreneurs affected by the community quarantine during the pandemic like has greatly benefitted the LAG MSMEs like Labarejos and Densing.  Both shared that the SLP has helped them improve their livelihoods, Quintana bared.

Quintana said that the DSWD-7 livelihood program beneficiaries and the trainees at the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) expressed their gratitude to the government for the programs that truly help them in trying times. (Photos: DSWD7/Kerwin Macopia)