6 labor unions to get P4M in livelihood grant

MANILA, Philippines - Six labor unions with livelihood projects will get a total of P4 million in assistance under the workers income augmentation program (Winap), the Labor department reported Thursday. The fund grant from Winap, or the Dagdag-Kabuhayan para sa mga Manggagawa program was announced during the country's celebration of the 106th Labor Day anniversary at the World trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City on May 1, Thursday. Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the labor groups that would receive fund support are the following: * Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms in the National Capital Region (NCR) will receive a grant of P816,648 for their rice retailing and wholesaling business; * Kilusan sa Jollibee-Kilusan-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) will be extended P1 million assistance for their consumers cooperative wholesaling and retailing store in NCR; * Kapatiran ng mga Manggagawa sa Tri-Phil International, Inc., will get P240,000 for their commissary business also in NCR; * Life Giver Development Foundation, Inc. will be granted P610,000 for the expansion of the livelihood skills of members in Region 3 (Central Luzon); * Associated Labor Union-TUCP will be given P880,000 for the expansion of the organization's cooperative in Region 11 (Southern Mindanao); and * Sudecor United Independent Labor Union will get P340,000 for its canteen and snack bar business in Region 13 (Caraga). Winap is a program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that is being implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to assist low-income workers including informal and overseas Filipino workers to set up and operate their own business or livelihood projects. Roque said the program has been strengthened in response to workers' problem of sustaining their families' basic needs brought about by the adverse effects of such factors as oil prices hikes and weakening of the US dollar. He said the DOLE taps accredited co-partners (ACPs) in implementing the program. The ACPs can be registered trade unions and federations, local affiliates of labor federations, independent unions, workers' associations, cooperatives, non-government organizations, and other accredited organizations. The program also seeks the assistance of employers to finance and provide mentoring, market access, and other resources necessary for the operation of the workers' business or livelihood undertakings. DOLE IPS, GMANews.TV