A total of 100 vendors have received cash assistance under the Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG), a joint program of the Davao City government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assist members of the informal sector whose livelihood was affected during the coronavirus pandemic.
The beneficiaries were among the 2,760 small Davao City business owners targeted to receive the LAG. The program offers P10,000 cash assistance to vendors who received the cash aid on Friday, September 3, from the DSWD Region XI led by Regional Director Raquel Nuñez and the head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Atty. Marlisa Gallo.
Ma. Elaine Albutra, an owner of the online ukay-ukay business, was grateful for the cash assistance as it is a big help, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic.
âDako jud ang akong kalipay nga naapil ko sa livelihood assistance grant (LAG) kay karong pahanuna, kinanglan jud namo ug kapital sa among negosyo, although naka-put up naman mi, pero kinahanglan pajud namo ang dugang para additional income, kay kabalo naka sa panahon karon sa pandemic kinahanglan jud karon ang tao maka-income jud bisan ginagmay para naay suporta sa panginahanglanan (I am happy that I qualified for this livelihood assistance grant (LAG) because we really need capital for our business. Although we have already put up our business, we still need additional income because you know in this time of pandemic, people need to have income to support our daily needs),â Albutra said in an interview with CIO.
Albutra admitted that there is less income due to the pandemic and the cash grant was a relief.
âAt least karon natagaan pami ug additional capital para sa among makompra namo matuyok tuyok namo para naa pud mi pang support pud sa among panginahanglan (At least now we are given additional capital for us to use and support our needs),â Albutra added.
Albutra said she is thankful to the DSWD and CSWDO for reaching out to vendors like her who need assistance. CIO
