Pilar, having passed and justified all the indicators became the official entry to the National Awards this year during the 2022 KABUHAYAN AWARDS held in New Coast Hotel, Malate, Manila last May 27, 2022. Along with other Regional Winners, Pilar, Sorsogon was conferred with a Plaque of Commendation from DOLE and granted a cash award in the amount of Forty Thousand Pesos (P40,000.00). The PESO Manager, Ma. Annie L. Perete represented Pilar Mayor, Hon. Carolyn C. Sy-Reyes in the said auspicious event to receive the very first award bagged by Pilar from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

 

The annual KABUHAYAN AWARDS is DOLE’s commitment and continued effort to recognize outstanding accomplishments exemplified by the beneficiaries, implementers, and partners relative to the implementation of the DILP. Sixteen LGUs(1 per region) with significant performance and contribution to the implementation of the DILP were awarded nationwide.

 

Pilar has been consistently implementing Livelihood Program as an intervention for the marginalized population for the agency’s thrust of inclusive growth. It targets employment generation and guarantees alternative livelihood. It seeks potential beneficiaries from among the poorest and farthest strata of society.

 

Pilar’s entry to the Regional Best Individual Project was Mr. ReenJay Sia from a low-income youth sector who opted not to seek wage employment but to venture into a business that will satisfy his passion for food preparation, had established an, undeniably, good fight with other contenders in Region V. He received Starter Kits amounting to P19, 758.40, making use of them to improve his living condition until it generated employment when he expanded into a catering business named Crave Kitchen and Catering Services. He may not able to get the desired result during the final deliberation but it contributed significantly to LGU-Pilar’s pursuit of changing the lives of its 86 livelihood beneficiaries in 2018 thus, making Pilar this year’s DOLE V Best LGU Implementing DILP.

 

DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program is the DOLE’s contribution to the government’s agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and substantial poverty reduction. It seeks to reduce the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers by providing them access to grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood ventures either for individual or group undertakings.

 

Similarly, LGU-Pilar forecasted the need for a localized livelihood program anticipating urgency to readily respond to the need of different sectors for intervention in time that DOLE could not accommodate the entire requests of cities, municipalities, and provinces at the same time. It gave birth to Project Sail ( Sectoral Access to an Improved Livelihood) and EMPLEO ( Employment Project for Livelihood Enhancement Opportunities). These are for implementation this year and onwards by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO). (Pilar PIO)