During her interpellation, Senator Loren Legarda lauded the SLP as she emphasized on the need to institutionalize the livelihood program.

“Isa po sa napakagandang programa is yung SLP. Maganda po yan na programa, that’s a program, it’s not yet a law. The good secretary, through the sponsor, may wish that this would be institutionalized,” Senator Loren Legarda said, forwarding the call to Senator Imee Marcos who is the sponsor of the DSWD’s proposed budget.

Senator Legarda noted that the SLP “aims to enhance the socioeconomic conditions of vulnerable households by providing them with access to livelihood opportunities and resources.”

Under the DSWD’s 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the SLP was allocated Php4.43 billion.

The Senate’s version, however, suggested the addition of Php3.6 billion to the amount indicated in the NEP.

Senator Legarda supported the increased funding, citing the benefits of extending abundant livelihood opportunities, which can lift people out of poverty.

“Ako talaga ay sang-ayon diyan dahil ako ay naniniwala na hindi lamang po puro dole-out at bigyan po natin ng punuhan para magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan… MSMEs , micro-enterprises,” Senator Legarda said.

Senator Imee Marcos, who chaired the subcommittee behind the amendment, explained that the SLP aims to strengthen livelihood support for the poorest sector of society, particularly the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Senator Marcos stressed that the budget increase will enable the agency to further promote self-sufficiency and financial independence among its beneficiaries.

“Dinagdagan po natin ang pondo ng SLP dahil parating sinasabi na ang 4Ps walang katapusan. Eh, ngayon talagang ini-implement na yung batas na hanggang pitong taon lamang yung 4Ps. Pagkatapos non mahirap pa yung mga pamilya na binibigyan ng 4Ps,” Senator Marcos explained.

“So kinakailangan, may ibat ibang exit strategy. Isang exit strategy na nakikita natin na talagang mabisa at mabilis ay itong SLP,” Senator Marcos added.

The SLP is a capacity-building program of the DSWD for the identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities aimed at providing viable interventions and support to improve the participants’ socio-economic conditions by accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

The SLP offers two tracks — the Micro-enterprise Development (MD) track and the Employment Facilitation (EF) track.

The MD track focuses on the establishment of microenterprise through the provision of financial capital, enhancement of skills, and building/re-building physical and natural assets while the EF track provides assistance to qualified member/s of poor households who preferred employment rather than engaging in microenterprise. (LSJ)