Some 1,000 informal sector (IS) vendors or traders whose businesses were washed away by tropical storm “Ondoy” will be provided livelihood grants of P5,000 or more to help them restore and regain their income sources.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said the funding assistance for the Ondoy victims will form part of its Nego-Kart and the Starter Kit programs, which are both under DoLE's “deliverable projects.”

The funds will be coming from the regular regional fund allocation of DoLE offices and accredited co-partners (ACP), including the local government units (LGUs), it said.

“The business owners in the affected areas should go to their regional or field offices and register in order to avail of the grant,’’ said DoLE Undersecretary Lourdes Transmonte.

“The DoLE officers will only provide the grant to small businesses,’’ she added.

Transmonte said that IS workers in Metro Manila and Regions 3 and 4A will be given the highest priority since they suffered severely from the onslaught of the storm.

According to the DoLE's Bureau of Rural Workers (BRW), beneficiaries under the Nego-Kart will be provided a total of P15,000 financial assistance, including a “nego-kart’’ vending cart and accessory livelihood tools amounting to P12,000, along with a working capital of P2,500 and training assistance worth P500.

Vendor-beneficiaries will also be assisted in securing business permits to operate in designated area and issued a DoLE logo on the Nego-Karts, and in forming an organization in order for them to have a collective social protection, it said.

The DoLE's Kabuhayan Starter Kit project, on the other hand, will provide target beneficiaries - IS sectors and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families -- both skills training and the necessary tools for their intended livelihood undertakings as massage therapists, plumbing/electrician, beautician, and in engagements in the production of home-based and food products, and fashion accessories.

Earlier, the DoLE said it will also tap about 1,500 victims of Ondoy to repair schools and clean up debris for 15 to 22 days as part of its emergency wage employment program.

DoLE said that 900 will come from the National Capital Region (NCR) and the rest will come from Regions 3 and 4A.

"The assistance will cover from October to December, and each worker will be paid P360 per day,'' Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque said.