Small business owners in Samar, including operators of eateries, bakeries, and sari-sari stores, have received livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as part of the government’s continuing effort to strengthen microenterprises and support vulnerable workers.
The assistance was distributed under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), which provides starter kits, equipment, and financial support to low-income and disadvantaged workers seeking sustainable sources of income.
According to reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), DOLE has intensified its livelihood initiatives in Samar and nearby provinces to help families recover from economic hardships and improve their earning opportunities.
Beneficiaries were encouraged to invest in practical community-based businesses such as food vending, bakery operations, rice retailing, and sari-sari stores.
DOLE officials said the program aims to reduce poverty while promoting entrepreneurship among workers affected by unemployment and rising living costs.
In Jiabong, Samar alone, more than P7.5 million in livelihood grants were previously released to support ventures including sari-sari stores, mussel vending, and rice retailing projects.
The livelihood packages mirror similar assistance programs implemented in other regions of the country.
In Camiguin, DOLE awarded P365,000 worth of aid to beneficiaries engaged in food vending, cake and pastry making, sari-sari stores, and snack production.
Local beneficiaries in Samar expressed gratitude for the assistance, saying the additional capital and equipment would help them sustain daily operations and support their families amid increasing prices of goods and commodities.
Sari-sari stores remain an essential part of Filipino communities, particularly in rural areas, where residents rely on neighborhood stores for daily necessities and affordable goods.
Government agencies continue to encourage small entrepreneurs to expand community-based businesses as part of broader efforts to stimulate local economic activity and create more livelihood opportunities in Eastern Visayas.
(Photo courtesy of PIA/DOLE Samar field office)
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