MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — A total of 198 families affected by the ongoing construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) in Bulacan were provided with supplementary livelihood assistance by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday, September 30.
The DOTr distributed P15,000 worth of sari-sari store package to augment the beneficiaries’ existing stores. Each received the “Ginhawa Pangkabuhayan Sari-Sari Store Package” composed of assorted grocery items and seven sacks of 25-kilo rice.
Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the initiative is in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure livelihood for families relocated due to transport infrastructure projects.
“Ang utos po ng Pangulo, huwag pabayaan at tiyakin ang pangkabuhayan ng mga naapektuhan ng proyekto ng pamahalaan. Sana po ang ibinigay nating pang-negosyo gaya ng pang sari-sari store at bigas ay mapalago pa para may dagdag silang kita,” Lopez said.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right-of-Way and Site Acquisition (ROWSA) IC Calaguas said livelihood restoration is a priority program of the department.
“Ito pong livelihood package ay isa po sa priority na programa ng DOTr sa mga tatamaan po ng ating railway program. Ang priority po ng DOTr ay hindi lang mabayaran kayo doon sa inyong bahay, hindi lang po makapagbigay ng bagong relokasyon kundi po syempre mabigyan kayo ng pagkakakitaan,” Calaguas said.
She also urged beneficiaries to grow the assistance into a profitable business.
Relocatees who received the starter packages said the assistance will serve as additional income amid rising prices of commodities.
“Malaking dagdag po ito sa kabuhayan ng misis ko lalo na sa akin kasi magkano lang ang aking sweldo. Malaking bagay po itong matatanggap na livelihood ng DOTr,” beneficiary Noel said.
“Ito pong pangkabuhayan na ipinagkaloob niyo, ito po’y maasahan niyo na ito ay tuloy-tuloy naming palalaguin sa abot ng aming makakaya,” said Evangeline.
Under the DOTr Livelihood Restoration and Improvement Program, beneficiaries receive merchandise based on their preferred livelihood such as grocery items, frozen goods, and car wash materials, among others. The DOTr partnered with the Provincial Government of Bulacan under Governor Daniel Fernando for the fund transfer that facilitated the program.
A second batch of families will undergo training to complete a total of 500 beneficiaries.
Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PPESO) Head Engr. Egbert Robles thanked the DOTr for providing additional income for Bulakenyos.
“Yung iba car wash package, yung iba naman RTW. Ito po sama sama po pandagdag kabuhayan po sa mga may tindahan po. Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa DOTr, sa ngalan po ni Governor Daniel at saka ni Vice Governor Alexis Castro,” Robles said.
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