At least 40 parolees and probationers of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Negros Occidental have benefited from the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The DOLE Regional Office 6, through its Negros Occidental Field Office (DOLE RO 6-NOFO), said on Monday, Sept. 12, that they turned over the aid packages amounting to P800,000 to the San Carlos City Agriculture Office.
According to DOLE Region 6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr., the 40 parolees were given cash assistance for the business venture in livestock/animal raising, tricycle, egg wholesale/retail, rice retailing, and food and fruit vending carts worth P20,000 each.
In his message, Rodriguez underscored the importance of assisting former persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and supporting their process of reformation to become co-existing citizens in society.
“Providing the assistance to PDLs to support the process of reformation and to assist for their peaceful co-existence with the mainstream of society,” said Rodriguez.
The livelihood assistance granted under the DOLE's flagship program is part of the Reformation Enhancement for Holistic Advancement of Beneficiaries (REHAB) in collaboration with the Department of Justice's-Parole and Probation Administration- Region 6 (DOJ-PPA) which aims at helping ex-offenders to become more productive in the community.
Senior Labor Employment Officer Elmer Gimay also encouraged the beneficiaries to take good care of their livelihood and make it sustainable to alleviate their lives from poverty.
Present during the turn-over of the livelihood package were Regional Officer-in-Charge of Parole and Probation Administration Region 6, Grace Tomaro; CPPO Nilda F. Diwatin, Sr. PPO Katherine Louise S. Guanzon; AAIV Lucila S. Alcos; and Parole and Probation Administration- San Carlos Staff Gerard H. Peral Jr.; and Ma. Dolores C. Combate, Lyn Marie C. Caballero, Winnah Kristine Nemenzo, and Henry Tacsan from the DOLE.