PIA Press Release Thursday, January 26, 2012 SEA-K trade fair to highlight DSWD anniversary in EVTACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan 24 (PIA) -- About 10 Self-Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) organizations in Eastern Visayas will be joining this year’s trade fair highlighting the 61st year anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here. During the Suruswerte ha PIA radio program Friday edition, Vina Aquino, DSWD information officer said that the trade fair will showcase and open to public locally-made products like binagol, pili nuts, banana chips, handicrafts, bags, and other products made of recycled papers, among others. The four-day trade fair will open in the afternoon of January 24, Tuesday at the DSWD compound and a press conference will follow. Aquino noted that with the livelihood assistance which the government extends to these SEA-K beneficiaries through the DSWD, the standard of living of the beneficiaries has changed and they already show their active involvement in the development efforts in their respective communities. In fact, a group of successful SEA-K associations called SEA-Kabayan merged and is now receiving bigger capital assistance from DSWD to fund their livelihood project. SEA-Kabayan is composed of five SEAK groups from Calbiga, Samar which showed commendable accomplishments in handling their livelihood projects. SEA-Kabayan is one of the national awardees which will be receiving an award at the DSWD central office on January 26, during its culmination program. SEA-K is one of DSWD’s convergence strategy programs which give not only capital assistance but also train and extends technical assistance on how to manage their business so that they will be able to access in other credit facilities. Just last month, the Landbank of the Philippines offered SEA-Kabayan a P1-million loan program wherein the formal launching and turn-over was done in Calbiga, Samar. Meanwhile, another national awardee, the SOS Children Village, has been adjudged as best non-government organization in Calbayog City that will also be receiving its award together with the SEA-Kabayan. This year’s anniversary celebration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development banners the theme, “Tuloy-tuloy sa pag-unlad.” (PIA-8) |