The Muntinlupa City government, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR), on Tuesday launched the Bikecination and Bigasan livelihood program for fully vaccinated workers and indigent residents.
Rep. Ruffy Biazon led the launching of the program together with DOLE-NCR Director Leonides Castillon Jr. and Muntinlupa Public Employment Service Office chief Glenda Zamora-Aniñon at the Muntinlupa Sports Center in Brgy. Tunasan.
For the Bikecination project, 28 fully vaccinated beneficiaries who are parents or beneficiaries of the local Joint Resource Financing Program (JRFP) and youth entrepreneurs under the Youth Affairs and Sports Development Office (YASDO) received a bike unit each with accessories such as carrier bag, bottle, head gear, back and front light, vest and rain coat. They also received cellphone units with P5,000 prepaid load each.
DOLE’s Bikecination project aims to provide an alternative source of income for informal sector workers or their next of kin under the A4 category who have received their COVID-19 vaccine.
The project targets to give incentives and encourage informal sector workers to get vaccinated to help in the country’s fight against this pandemic.
For the Bigasan livelihood program, 25 beneficiaries who are parents of child laborers each received eight 25-kilo sacks of rice worth P10,000.
Other officials who joined the launching event included JRFP acting head Maylene Viñas, Youth Affairs and Sports Development Office chief Cynthia Viacrusis, City Cooperative Office chief Atty. Nemei Santiago, Social Service Department chief Analyn Mercado, and Tourism, Culture, and the Arts Department chief Juvy Engo.
The city government continues to provide financing assistance to micro-entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through Tulong Negosyo Program’s zero-interest loans (formerly Dagdag Puhunan) to help city residents cope with the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
Tulong Negosyo caters to MSMEs and provides micro-finance assistance ranging from P2,000 up to P150,000 depending on the business capital ceiling and payment record of beneficiaries. The program aims to provide additional capital for business expansion for aspiring and established business owners in Muntinlupa.