DSWD conducts livelihood forum in Tandag City
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – In a pioneering initiative in Surigao del Sur, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Surigao del Sur Satellite Office conducted the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) SurSur Asenso Forum: Gabay sa Permit, Lisensya at Serbisyong Pampubliko on March 21 in Tandag City.
The forum, the first of its kind in the province for Cluster 1 beneficiaries, brought together SLP association-members and key stakeholders to provide essential knowledge on business registration, securing permits and licenses, and accessing various public services crucial to livelihood development.
According to Doreen Artiza, DSWD provincial partnership officer, the forum was designed to enhance the capacity of SLP beneficiaries in complying with regulatory processes and ensuring the sustainability of their enterprises.
Through interactive discussions, participants were guided on how to navigate legal and administrative requirements vital for formalizing and growing their livelihood projects.
Grassroots challenges
During the open forum, Weng Engayas, an official of the Pagasa Malambuon Upland Farmers Association, raised their concern over the difficulty of obtaining a building permit at the municipal level, an obstacle that has hindered their operations. Responding promptly, the program coordinator assured them of DSWD’s support and ordered that assistance be provided in preparing and processing the necessary documents to ensure the continuity of their livelihood activities.
One of the participants, Angelina Suyman-Laher, president of the Mabua Empowered Women’s Association, expressed her appreciation for the forum.
“I learned a lot, especially as a leader of our association,” she said. The group previously received a P600,000 grant from the DSWD, which was used to establish a business on printing services at Purok Quintos Phase 1, Mabua, Tandag City.
Laher shared key takeaways from the seminar, including how an association with at least 35 members can be converted into a cooperative to qualify for tax exemption. She also stressed the importance of registering with various agencies, DTI for business name registration, SEC for association registration, and BIR for the issuance of official receipts.
Additionally, she noted that TESDA offers free training programs that can further enhance the capabilities of micro-entrepreneurs.
Multi-agency support
The event also saw the active participation of technical experts and officials from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), TESDA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), as well as representatives from the provincial government and City Government of Tandag. These agencies provided valuable insights and addressed concerns raised by the participants.
The SurSur Asenso Forum marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the SLP in Surigao del Sur, and set a precedent for more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful capacity-building efforts across the province in the future. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
