CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Some 216 qualified micro entrepreneurs from 10 villages in the province of Pampanga have received over P1 million livelihood grants from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the provincial government.

DoLE Regional Director Leopoldo de Jesus and Governor Lilia Pineda personally turned over the checks to the beneficiaries in simple rites at the Benigno Aquino Memorial Hall here recently.

Mamerto Gatus, of the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO), said the livelihood grant benefited members of Negosyo king Panyulung Program (NPP) associations of: Apung Maria in Sta. Maria, Macabebe; San Esteban, Macabebe; SMAC in Sta. Monica, Sta. Rita; Monicanians in Sta. Monica, Lubao; San Antonio in San Antonio, Guagua; Lucian in Sta.Lucia, San Luis; Rosarian in Sto. Rosario, San Luis; Mother’s Club in San Isidro, Magalang; Christ the King in Sapang Maisac, Mexico; and Samahang Katapat in Babo, Pangulo, Porac.

Pineda encouraged the beneficiaries to increase their annual livelihood grant to benefit more micro-entrepreneurs.

The provincial government provided a P200,000 counterpart fund to the DoLE livelihood grant for the conduct of capacity building activities to provide the beneficiaries with the needed knowledge and skills in the management of their income generating projects.

“I encourage you to treasure the assistance the national and provincial government is giving you. I enjoin you to ensure the sustainability of your business ventures,” Pineda said.

Pineda likewise suggested that they include ready-to-eat meals that they could sell to construction workers to further increase their earnings.

She told them that the provincial government has various on-going district hospitals construction and renovation projects in the municipalities of Arayat, Porac, and Guagua, aside from repair and rehabilitation of public schools projects in other areas of the province.

For her part, Provincial Board Member Monina Laus, chairperson of Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s trade and industry committee, encouraged the beneficiaries to double their efforts and commitment in order to succeed as they owe it to themselves and to the concerned government agencies that provided them with assistance and services.

She also pointed out that their success is also the success of the provincial government, especially the governor who doesn’t tire of initiating and implementing projects designed to uplift the lives of the marginalized sector.

Laus, widow of former board member and prominent businessman Pinong Laus, shared with the program beneficiaries the family’s secret to success and that is “to pay your debts and obligations promptly.”

In another development, the regional office of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is set to recognize outstanding government workers as it calls for nominations for the 2012 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees in Central Luzon.