PIA Press Release
Monday, January 09, 2012 LGU boosts livelihood project of senior citizensby Larry Lopez TABUK, Kalinga, Jan. 9(PIA) —- Inspired by their high capacity to produce despite their age, the provincial government provided P100,000 additional livelihood assistance to 21 members of the senior citizen’s federation of the province. Eusebia Haddac of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) said Governor Jocel C. Baac was excited to release the additional aid upon learning that the sector has managed well its income generating projects financed by the province. For 2012, the 21 beneficiaries would venture into house slipper business after undergoing training by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office. The training is designed as “sheltered workshop” where trainees earn while they learn. Participants were asked to buy their own materials at minimal prices, through the assistance of DTI, because outputs from the workshop are returned back to them as initial products to start a small business. The three-day training will teach the beneficiaries to produce washable cloth house slippers which have been eyed as easy marketable item here, according to Haddac. As support to the sector, the province allotted one percent of its internal revenue allotment (IRA) share as regular support fund to the senior citizen as contained in the sector’s Magna Carta. Haddac said the assistance granted is a form of soft loan payable in two years without interest, which upon payment could be rolled to other beneficiaries. The federation is planning to expand to livestock production project using their income from the slipper business this year. (JDP/LL-PIA CAR,Kalinga) | 
