The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Sustainable Livelihood Program special projects and Presidential Management has awarded the dependents of the Killed in Action soldiers on September 6, 2019 at LM Metro Hotel, Zamboanga City.

As can be recalled, an encounter between the Abu Sayyaf militant group and the 44th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on April 6, 2016 took the lives of 18 soldiers and wounded 53 troopers at Sitio Bayoko, Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan Province.

The Malacanang through former President Beningo Aquino ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide further assistance to the members of the bereaved families along with the cash allocation amounting to 300,000.

The Approved project costs of P300,000 will be awarded to each dependent in two tranches where the first tranche shall be equivalent to 70% of the approved projects costs while the remaining 30% shall be awarded after implementation, assessment and liquidation of the initial livelihood funds.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Baustista led the formal turn-over ceremony together with Regional Director Nestor Ramos and Assistant Director for Operations Fatima Caminan.

Following the said turnover of cash assistance, a Basic Business Management Training to these beneficiaries was organized to provide technical inputs as required by the Program itself. The said 3 day training ushered the participants to draw out plans, learn basic skills on financial recording and financial management to identify strategies for resource mobilization.

DSWD assured for further monitoring on their business enterprises three months after the release of their respective funds.

The provision for families of KIA and WIA soldiers is covered under the Special Projects of the Sustainable Livelihood Program in collaboration with the Presidential Management Staff of Malacańang.