Western Visayas residents receive livelihood boost through Cayetano-DSWD partnership

 

PRESS RELEASE

December 15, 2023

Hundreds of residents from the provinces of Antique and Guimaras received livelihood aid from the offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano on December 11 and 12, 2023.

The two-day visit of their offices in Western Visayas reached out to different sectors in partnership with the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which aims to provide capacity-building to improve the beneficiaries' socio-economic status.

On December 11, 140 women and farmers from San Remigio, Antique, received livelihood assistance of P15,000 each. Playing a vital role in making the outreach activity a success, San Remigio Mayor Margarito "Mar" Mission Jr. expressed his gratitude to the senators for the support for Antiqueños.

“We’re so grateful to all your help to my constituents here in San Remigio. The 140 beneficiaries of the livelihood program are experiencing a 360-degree turnaround in their lives because you've given them a chance to start anew,” he said.

The following day, the offices of the Cayetanos proceeded to Guimaras to extend aid to 400 women and small business owners of the province. With the assistance of Governor Joaquin Carlos “JC” Nava, deserving members of these sectors were provided livelihood assistance.

Among the beneficiaries was Roselyn Lucbane from Buenavista, who shared that she had longed to start a business but financial constraints have held her back. Now, with the support she received, it is possible for her to finally pursue her business endeavors.

“Salamat po sa binigay niyo sa amin na tulong. Kung hindi po dahil sa inyo, hindi po kami magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makapag-hanapbuhay. ‘Wag po kayong magsawa na tumulong sa mga mahihirap,” she said.

From the municipality of San Lorenzo, Lylanie Ayos, another beneficiary, thanked God for using Senators Alan and Pia as instruments to positively impact and change their lives.

“Malaking tulong po ito sa pang-hanapbuhay, may pagkukunan na po kami ng pang-araw-araw namin. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Diyos dahil binigyan Niya kami ng mga tao na tululong sa amin, sina Senator Pia at Alan Peter Cayetano,” she said.

Senators Alan and Pia have been working together with different agencies to reach different provinces across the country to deliver essential aid to marginalized Filipinos. 

Days before the visit to Western Visayas, their offices had already extended assistance to Cagayan de Oro, Palawan, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).###

DOT bares 8 new tourism circuits in Western Visayas

by Tara Yap, MB

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has revealed eight new tourism circuits in the Western Visayas region. 

VISITORS enjoy the sunset at world-famous Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

“The new tourism circuits for 2023 will not only focus on sun and beach or cultural tourism. This will be different from before,” said newly installed DOT-Region 6 Director Crisanta “Krisma” Marlene P. Rodriguez.

Three are in world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan – the Boracay Biking Tours, the Boracay Wellness Workation (combining wellness and work retreat), and the Boracay Food Crawl.

These new offerings want to tap the other potentials of the country’s most famous beach destination.

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Another is the Western Visayas Dive Circuit, which will boost dive sites in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

The DOT-6 is also promoting the Fun Farm circuit for farm tourism, the Slow Food project for culinary tourism, and the Western Visayas Sugar Heritage Trail for the robust sugar industry.

There is also Inter-Regional products, which will create a tourism circuit for diving, pilgrimage, and motor tours across the Visayas in collaboration with the DOT regional offices in Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.