The provincial government of South Cotabato under the leadership of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. has allocated at least Php13.3 million for the sustainable livelihood and capability-building program for poverty reduction dubbed as Alalay sa Negosyo, Ginhawa at Trabaho (ANGAT ) program.
This program aims to improve the socio-economic status of the poor and vulnerable households, marginalized individuals, and the underprivileged sector for them to have a chance for a better life.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office will take the lead in the implementation of the program.
Provincial Social Welfare officer Haide D. Agustin said, the program will help strengthen social protection and provide opportunities for income generation and livelihood development .” she said,
The ANGAT program is a community-based livelihood program that offers a one-time grant of capital seed fund amounting to Php10,000 to deserving beneficiaries.
The Assessment of which will be determined by the assigned program coordinators and focal persons in coordination with their counterparts at the city, municipal, and barangay levels.
Based on the proposed budget, the funding support will come from three sources.
These will include Php 3million from SDWD General Fund, Php8 million from SEA-K trust Fund, and Php2 million from the Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
The program has two categories.
ANGAT 1 is one-time grant assistance for individuals and groups seeking livelihood assistance.
For individuals, those who can avail are those considered under Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), recovering drug dependents, former rebels, victims of abuse and calamities.
For groups are persons with a disability, disadvantaged women, Indigenous People, Muslims, Out of School Youth, Senior Citizens, community volunteers,, farmers and vulnerable sectors.
For ANGAT 2 program, eligible beneficiaries are registered/accredited associations such as the cooperatives, Peoples’ Organization, and DOLE and SEC-registered and other accredited associations.
Earlier, the provincial government has provided initial capital seed fund to at least 19 clients of the “Balay Silangan” Reformatory Center amounting to Php10,000 from the ANGAT program implemented under the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC).
The ANGAT program is the local version of the HOPE (Holding Opportunity for Productive Entrepreneurship) originally known as the SEA-K (Self Employment Assistance Kaunlaran ) program.
