THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is rolling out more than P261.5 million in livelihood assistance nationwide on Labor Day, targeting 11,257 beneficiaries under its Kabuhayan Program in a major push to strengthen long-term income opportunities.
Timed with the country’s 124th Labor Day celebration today, the initiative goes beyond short-term aid, aiming to equip workers with sustainable sources of livelihood that can support families well after the holiday.
Labor officials said the funding will be coursed through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), one of the agency’s flagship interventions designed for informal workers, vulnerable sectors, and community-based groups.
DOLE said the program reflects the government’s broader strategy of pairing immediate financial relief with long-term economic resilience, especially for those most affected by unstable or low-income work.
Instead of one-time assistance, beneficiaries will receive support that allows them to build or expand small enterprises tailored to local demand and available resources.
These livelihood grants come in the form of starter kits or materials for projects such as sari-sari stores, negokarts, farming, livestock raising, fishing ventures and other community-driven businesses.
The assistance is flexible and scalable, with individuals eligible for packages worth up to P50,000, while organized groups or associations can receive as much as P3 million depending on their approved proposals.
Among the standout success stories is the Hinatuan Seaweed Farmers Fishermen Cooperative, a previous Kabuhayan Program beneficiary and one of the 2025 DOLE Kabuhayan Awards winners.
The group transformed its livelihood model from environmentally harmful practices — such as illegal mangrove cutting — into sustainable seaweed farming.
“Now, because of seaweed farming, the illegal cutting of mangroves has stopped,” the cooperative shared, noting a major shift in both income and environmental awareness.
Today, the cooperative supports 107 community members, providing them with a stable and eco-friendly source of income.
DOLE said that what was once an uncertain and destructive livelihood has evolved into a reliable economic activity that benefits both families and the local ecosystem.
