The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5), through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), has awarded seed capital funds to four new eligible cooperatives in Sorsogon province.

In a phone interview on Wednesday, Ram Joseph Zaragoza, DSWD-Bicol project development officer for SLP, said DSWD-Bicol awarded on Tuesday some PHP1.1 million to the cooperatives under the Zero Hunger Program of the DSWD.

“The groups are expected to engage in food production-related livelihood based on the approved proposals. The four associations’ seed funds were given depending on the amount indicated in their projects. We will continue to monitor them, the incubation period what we call it, to ensure the sustainability of the projects is two years,” Zaragosa said.

The four groups and the amount they received are the Agriville SLP Association with 29 members — PHP435,000; Blessed Village SLP Association with 10 members — PHP150,000; Purok 4 Extension Cambulaga SLP with 27 members — PHP405,000; and the Buhatan River Cruise and Pasalubong with 10 members — PHP150,000.

“With the four associations’ projects, magkakaroon ng mga bagong negosyo sa Sorsogon na tutulong laban sa kagutuman at kahirapan (there will be new businesses in Sorsogon that will help fight hunger and poverty),” he added.

The SLP is a capability-building program of the DSWD with the objective of improving the abilities of the poor to advance in life by providing them with appropriate assistance. (PNA)