ADRA supported “Hamungaya” Awarded P300,000 by DSWD

Hamungaya President Glenda Basa is handed a check P300,000 by Mayor Jett Roxas from the DSWD SLP.

Hamungaya SLP Fruits, Vegetables and Preserves Association, an ADRA assisted Community Based Organization, received P300,000.00 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a part of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Hamungaya SLP Fruits, Vegetables & Preserves Association is an ADRA assisted group through the REAP (Restoring, Empowering, and Protecting Livelihoods) Project implemented in northern Iloilo from 2015-2019, as part of the rehabilitation program after Typhoon Yolanda in November, 2013. Hamungaya is composed of 20 farmers and fishermen residing in Brgy. Culasi in the municipality of Ajuy. During the three years, this group was able to receive processing equipment, like dehydrators, grinders, and others, to help assist them in manufacturing preserves from their produce. They were able put-up a processing center, this time only with partial aid from ADRA, and the rest, the group had to raise as their counterpart.

To be able to sustain its positive results, the REAP Project’s sustainability plans includes linking these community-based organizations to government agencies. The REAP Project partnered with Local, Economic, Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) of Iloilo Governor’s office, and recommended Hamungaya SLP Fruits, Vegetables & Preserves Association to apply and, if approved, be a recipient to the Department of Social Welfare and Development SLP with Seed Capital Fund (SCF).

Hamungaya was awarded the P300,000 grant by the DSWD SLP Program on September 2019. As per SLP regulations, “the award money has to be used to make the associations livelihood program become more sustainable”, so the grant will be used to purchase additional processing equipment such as dehydrators, pulverizes, food processor, and sealers. It is the hope of Hamungaya that through the additional materials and equipment, the processing center can quicken their production, which will increase their income that will facilitate the growth and sustainability of the association as a whole.

Reference: DSWD Special Guidelines on Provision of Livelihood (2018). Taken from https://www.dswd.gov.ph/issuances/MCs/MC_2018-014.pdf on October 1, 2019