DOLE-7 distributes livelihood “NegoKarts” worth P3.7M to 137 individuals in Cebu City

CEBU CITY – Ma. Eda Obrador from Riverside, Kaimitohan, Barangay Sapangdaku, Cebu City could not believe that the form she filled out months ago would transform into a 5-in-1 Food Cart Business.

Obrador is one of those 137 individuals coming from the different barangays in Cebu City who are beneficiaries of the livelihood starter kit called Negosyo sa Kariton or NegoKart that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) released on October 11 at the UC-Mambaling Campus Gym.

According to Marites Mercado, DOLE-7 Tri-City Field Office (TCFO) Chief, these NegoKarts are Food Carts livelihood kits worth P3.7 million that are equipped with an LGP tank, stove, deep fryer, food containers, cooler, ingredients such as hot dogs, French fries, etc., pan and other cooking equipment all worth more than P27,000 each package.

“Apart from the Food Cart Business given to the beneficiaries, they are also covered with a Group Personal Accident Insurance with the GSIS for one year. These beneficiaries are mostly self-employed but whose income is not enough for their respective families’ daily needs. Some of them lost their jobs, while some lost their livelihood due to the pandemic and the devastating effects of Typhoon Odette, which struck the entire province of Cebu last December 2021,” Mercado bared.

DOLE-7 OIC-Regional Director, Lilia Estillore urged all beneficiaries to take care of what they received from the government through the Department of Labor and Employment saying that it is not every day that DOLE gives out livelihood assistance such as the NegoKarts.

Estillore said, the livelihood assistance extended to the beneficiaries was born out of the DOLE- Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), that aims to help reduce poverty and the vulnerability to risks of the working poor and the marginalized workers either through emergency employment and promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises.

Ma. Eda Obrador, like the other beneficiaries were mostly misty-eyed when they received their NegoKarts. Eda works at home as a dressmaker while her husband who is already retired, just helps at home.

Ma. Eda said she and her husband left early from home, headed to the venue feeling a bit unsure of what is in store for them.  She gasped at the sight of a hundred food carts lined up from end to end at the UC-Mambaling Campus Gym where the distribution too place.

“Mapasalamaton ko ug daku kay mapun-an na gyud ang akong kita. Gibaliwala ra gyud naku ang akong gi-fill out nga form, unya na-surprise ko sa dihang nay nitawag naku nga naa na ang Food Cart,” she said. (I am so thankful that my income would increase because of this. I just forgot about the forms we filled out last year and I am so surprised when DOLE called me that the Food Carts are now available.)

Ma. Eda added that she is so much blessed to be one of the beneficiaries of the NegoKarts livelihood assistance program of DOLE. Overjoyed and excited, she said she will continue with her Milk Tea skills training so she can probably get into it as her start-up business with her empanada, hot dogs, French fries, milk tea, and other street foods.  She planned to put up the Food Cart either in front of their home or at any viable place near the school in their area. (Photos: DOLE7/Luchel Taniza)