TORRIJOS, MARINDUQUE — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office MIMAROPA has invested a total of ₱1,780,000.00 in livelihood grant assistance to support the establishment and strengthening of community-based enterprises in the municipality of Torrijos, Marinduque, under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

The livelihood grants were provided to several Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) to finance income-generating projects such as broiler chicken production, duck farming, general merchandise, and retail trading.

The assistance aims to enable organized community groups to operate viable micro-enterprises that can provide sustainable sources of income for their members.

The turnover and inauguration of the livelihood projects highlighted the government’s commitment to inclusive economic development through strategic investments at the community level. Local officials, led by Torrijos Municipal Mayor Hon. Joey P. Peñaflor, together with DSWD livelihood personnel and barangay representatives, expressed their support for the associations and emphasized the importance of proper project implementation and financial management to ensure sustainability.

As part of the capacity-building support accompanying the financial assistance, Agriculture Technologist Christine R. Camero from the Municipal Agriculture Office conducted a refresher training on broiler chicken production and duck farming. The activity aimed to enhance the technical knowledge of the beneficiaries and maximize the effective utilization of the livelihood grants.

Beneficiary associations expressed their appreciation for the assistance provided by the national government through DSWD-SLP, noting that the grants enabled them to operationalize enterprises that were previously unattainable due to limited resources. The livelihood projects are expected to generate income, strengthen organizational capacity, and contribute to the local economy.

The ₱1.78 million livelihood investment supported the establishment of broiler chicken production projects in Barangays Makawayan and Buangan; a duck farming and by-products enterprise in Barangay Tigwi; general merchandise stores in Barangays Malibago and Dampulan; a rice, feeds, and frozen products store in Barangay Malibago; and a frozen goods and beverage store in Barangay Poblacion. Each association is composed of 15 to 30 members.

Through the provision of targeted livelihood grants, DSWD-SLP continues to promote self-reliance among vulnerable families, strengthen community enterprises, and contribute to sustainable local economic growth in Torrijos and across the province of Marinduque.