Medina, Misamis Oriental – Mr. Ryan Mangca, a 27 year old father of one child was one of the 25 graduates of Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II which he earned through the assistance of the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Ryan, who is currently a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, is now a regular employee of Fresh Fruit Ingredients Incorporated. He now earns a daily income of P291.00.

According to Ryan, having completed a technical course made him more confident as a breadwinner for his family. He says that he is grateful to the government that he was able to earn a diploma and land in a decent job. “My family gives me inspiration to thrive and work harder for our better future,” he says.

Mrs. Pamela Salazar, on the other hand, is a newly certified Massage Therapist who is currently employed at Duka Bay Resort. A mother of three children and a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary as well, Pamela completed a course of Massage Therapy under the SLP. She shares that this accomplishment has changed her and her family’s condition.

The same positivity is also expressed by Mrs. Maricel Dadang from Purok 5 Alubijid, Misamis Oriental who is now waiting for her passport to work as a Household Service Worker in Qatar.

Ryan, Pamela and Maricel are three of the 84 graduates who have completed technical courses offered by the Skills Mastery Institute (SMI).

Misamis Oriental Yevgeny Vicente Emano also expressed his thanks to the national government for bringing programs and projects such as SLP to the province of Mismais Oriental. “Mindanao has been called the ‘land of promise’, people promise us things and yet they do not come. DSWD has indeed realized their promise,” he added.

To this date, the SLP is counting more graduates and improved lives.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a multi-stakeholder program of the DSWD that aims to improve the standard of living of poor households. The program facilitates opportunities for the development and management of resource-based, culturally sensitive, market driven and economically viable micro-enterprises; employment facilitation; community empowerment through skills enhancement trainings; link program participants to micro-insurance providers and promote comprehensive family-based approach and community participation.

The implementation of Sustainable Livelihood Program immensely improved some of the lives of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in this province.

Written by Jamila M. Taha, DSWD