Pending the approval of its budget request, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) eyes early 2023 as the target date for the launch of “Mag-Negosyo Ta ‘Day” (MTD), a livelihood program started by Vice President Sara Duterte when she was still Davao City mayor to empower women and members of the LGBTQ+ sectors.
Lawyer Reynold Munsayac, Duterte’s spokesman, said they have a pending budget request of P150 million for this program.
“For Magnegosyo Ta 'Day, we requested an allocation of P150 million in the 2023 OVP annual budget,” he told Manila Bulletin, noting that 15,000 beneficiaries will get P10,000 each.
Munsayac added they had also met with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for a “possible partnership” for this project.
The spokesman shared that Duterte has already implemented the program in her hometown of Davao City, so the parameters are clear and they only need the funds to implement it nationwide.
“Depende ho kung maga-grant ‘yung request natin na budget noh. Pero siguro ho kung hindi aabot siguro baka (It depends if the budget we requested will be granted. But if it will not be on time, maybe) early next year na. Sa simula ng bagong taon natin mai-launch ‘yan (already. In the New Year, we can launch it),” he said during a joint press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
The livelihood program with financial assistance grant and training has been proven “effective,” Munsayac noted.
“Dun ho kasi minsan nagkukulang ‘yung mga government agencies. Nagbibigay ng (That’s where government agencies sometimes lack. They give) financial assistance pero kung walang (but if there is no) support system o walang (or no) support na (through) training hindi rin nagiging sustainable ‘yung programa (the program will not be sustainable),” he explained.
MTD targets to assist women and members of the LGBTQ+ sectors start-up livelihood projects to empower them and enable them to become financially independent.
READ: OVP to roll out Davao City’s ‘Mag-Negosyo Ta ‘Day” for Pinoys
Earlier, Munsayac said that beneficiaries of the program could be entitled to up to P20,000 in grant and will undergo Basic Business Management Training (BBMT).
The training will help the beneficiaries venture in livestock, sari-sari stores, goat dispersal, native chicken, and mini-meat processing.
Meanwhile, the spokesman also reported that the OVP has already processed a total of P43,303,489.70 in medical and burial assistance.
The funds were released through the OVP’s Manila office and various satellite offices.
“So, medyo magandang numero ito para sa isang (this is a good number for one) period na mahigit isang buwan lang (that’s just more than a month),” Munsayac said.
The OVP’s “Libreng Sakay Program,” in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), also helped 7,764 passengers in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Aug. 3 to 8.
The OVP deployed five buses to augment public transport during peak hours.