CATBALOGAN, Philippines — In the quiet farming villages of Hilongos town in Leyte, a wave of hope arrived on October 3 as 63 local residents — mostly small-scale farmers and former seafarers—received a much-needed shot at a better livelihood.
With Php2 million worth of aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office VIII, two local groups — the San Isidro Farmers Association and the Hilongos Seafarers Association — each received livelihood packages to kickstart their hog fattening projects.
Each association was granted 100 piglets and 100 sacks of feed, with each project valued at Php1 million. For these communities, it wasn’t just livestock — it was the promise of stability, and a fresh start after years of uncertainty.
Turnover ceremonies were held right in the barangays of San Isidro and San Juan, where residents gathered to witness the moment. Among them was Hilongos Mayor Manuel L. Villahermosa, who personally joined the event alongside DOLE’s West Leyte Field Office representative, Senior Labor and Employment Officer Darwinda C. Labastida.
The support comes under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program, a long-running initiative that aims to empower vulnerable sectors by helping them build sustainable sources of income.
For many of the recipients, the timing couldn’t be better. The pandemic, rising costs, and lack of stable work had taken a toll. Some had returned from years at sea only to find no clear path forward.
“This means everything to us,” said one of the farmer-beneficiaries, eyes glinting with hope. “We’ve struggled, but now we can breathe a little easier.”
Local leaders, including PESO Manager Giovani G. Olo, Brgy. San Isidro Captain Reynaldo Tuco, and Brgy. San Juan Captain Carmen Virdejo, also showed up to express their gratitude to DOLE, acknowledging how deeply this kind of support resonates in grassroots communities.
With piglets in pens and sacks of feed stacked nearby, the real work begins—but this time, with the wind finally at their backs. (via Ricky Bautista with additional reporting from DOLE-8)
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