The Department of Social Welfare and Development of Binalonan distributed on January 22 starter kits to 50 beneficiaries during Hog Raising Awarding Ceremony held at the Binalonan Tennis Court.
 
Under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the DSWD, each participant received fifteen thousand pesos worth of starter kit for hog raising which includes 2 piglets and 2 bags of feeds.
 
Participants are expected to raise the piglets and sell them after 3 to 4 months.
 
The recipients from the different barangays are not required to pay the amount allocated/loaned to them but they have to make sure that after selling their pigs they will have to buy 2 or 3 piglets to grow again.
 
In his message, Binalonan Vice Mayor Melicio Patague II said, “Wakasan natin ang kahirapan. Mangarap tayo.”
 
“Ang daming kuwento ng kahirapan. Sana pagdating ng araw makaririnig tayo ng mga kuwento ng tagumpay dahil sa proyektong eto,” said the vice mayor.
 
Meanwhile, SLP Provincial Coordinator Ronald Gabriel said, “Ang laki ng suporta ng LGU Binalonan sa proyekto. Dakayo mismo ti agtrabaho tapno agballigi ti proyekto.”
 
SLP is a program of the DSWD that aims to improve the socio-economic capacity of the participants through micro-enterprise development and employment facilitation activities that shall ultimately provide a sustainable income source.
 
“Inform me or the municipal veterinarian if you notice that your pigs are not in good health. Alagaan ninyong mabuti ang inyong mga baboy,” Binalonan Municipal Agriculturist Ricardo Tabuac, said.
 
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Marilyn Imbat assisted in the awarding ceremony.
 
Melvin Plares and Rodolfo Rivera, both former recipients of the program, gave their testimonies elaborating on the benefits that helped them have a sustainable source of income.
 
It can be recalled that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) awarded P2,484,580.00 to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Binalonan on November 24, 2017 for the implementation of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). And the hog raising project is one of these.