ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – Individuals with skills but are not able to maximize them due to lack of resources now have the opportunities to venture into their own livelihood endeavors through the Starter Kit Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

An ongoing program of the Labor Department for the entire Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), this project aims to assist individuals maximize their potentials by providing the tools and jigs needed by an individual.

Ian A. Lahi, chief of Technical Support and Services Divisions of the Region 9 office of DoLE, said the program intends to help displaced workers, out-of-school youth, and the informal sector in general to become productive individuals.

“This program caters, first and foremost, to displaced workers due to the recent financial crisis, our out-of-school youth and in a bigger scope, the informal sector. These are the prioritized groups that we have identified for this program,” Lahi said.

Lahi emphasized that the program does not give financial assistance to beneficiaries but tools needed by the beneficiary.

“To avoid misuse of funds by beneficiaries, the program will instead be giving tools or equipment to the beneficiary needed or commensurate to his or her skills,” Lahi explained.

He added that the beneficiaries are not obligated to pay anything to DoLE upon availing of the said program.

“What’s good about our program is that we give the equipment to our beneficiaries. They are not to pay us back even a single peso for the tools. All they have to do is too make their business grow. They will be monitored by our provincial offices,” he pointed out.