LEGAZPI CITY — The Legazpi City Veterinary Office (CVO) spearheaded additional training for rug making as part of the implementation of Hope for Especial children Livelihood Program (HELP) in order to help parents with special children to earn additional income.
Legazpi Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal said that giving livelihood activities to the parents of special children is very important so that they would have an additional source of livelihood while attending to their children who could not be left alone most of the time due to their special needs.
Rosal also urged the CVO to encourage those parents creating their own cooperative or association in order for them to avail financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other government agencies and financial institutions.
CVO Chief Dr. Emmanuel Estipona said that around 80 parents of special children have undergone training for rug making led by the One Rider Party-list held in their headquarters in Banquerohan Elementary School and Gregorian Mall basketball court recently.
Estipona mentioned that a new training schedule will be provided and he has already coordinated with some ‘ukay-ukay’ owners to sell their items at a discounted price which will be used for the said training.
He said the DSWD has pledged already to give financial assistance of P20,000 to each family with special children as part of the agency’s sustainable livelihood program.
Estipona said that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also pledged to provide booths at the malls as a display center in selling the rugs while the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) also vowed to help sell their products. I Emmanuel Solis