President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently awarded Certificates to Operate Tindahan Natin Outlet and capital assistance for the beneficiaries of Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) program in Bataan and Pampanga.
The awarding of certificates and capital assistance were held during the visit of President Arroyo in Balanga City, Bataan and Sta. Ana, Pampanga as part of her Social Justice Services for the Poor.
In the province of Bataan, 14 Tindahan Natin operators were given Certificates to Operate, while the Samahang Kababaihan ng Barangay Pinulot of Dinalupihan was awarded with capital assistance worth P125,000.00.
Meanwhile, five (5) Certificates to Operate Tindahan Natin Outlets were awarded by President Arroyo in Pampanga. The SEA-K Sta. Lucia, composed of 25 members, received a check worth P125,000.00 capital assistance.
In addition, four (4) family-beneficiaries, two in Bataan and two in Pampanga, each availed of the P5,000.00 capital assistance under the SEA-K Family Enterprise.
SEA-K is a capability building program of the DSWD in coordination with the local government units, designed to enhance the socio-economic skills of poor families to establish and self-manage a sustainable community-based micro-credit organization for entrepreneurial development. It involves the organization of 25-30 members into community-based credit organizations, called Self-Employment Assistance- Kaunlaran Associations (SKAs).
In 2007, some 1,271 SEA-K Level 1 Associations (SKAs) were organized benefiting 25,304 households nationwide. Capital seed fund amounting to P52.4 million was released to these SKAs.
SEA-K Level II involves the organization of two or more successful SEA-K Level I associations into SEA-K Level II associations or SEA-Kabayan that are provided with greater capital assistance to enable them to manage a micro-enterprise or repair or construct their homes. For the same period, 10 SEA Kabayans composed of 432 families were provided a higher level of entrepreneurial skills training and additional capital amounting to P8.9 million.
On the other hand, the Tindahan Natin Project, which started in 2006, is a national government initiative for food security, job generation and livelihood. It is part of the Hunger Mitigation Program of the Arroyo Administration. In 2007, 8,217 outlets were established nationwide. About 2,054,250 families are benefiting and have access to low-priced but good quality rice and noodles offered by the Tindahan Natin Outlets. ### May 9, 2008
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