S.COTABATO TO INVEST MORE IN LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS FOR WOMEN

February 14, 2005- (Asia Pulse)- Koronadal City, Phillipines- South Cotabato officials are planning to invest more this year on the livelihood projects of a cooperative catering to the women's sector.

Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr. of the province's second district said his office is targeting to double the allocation this year for the self-employment assistance-kaunlaran (SEA-K) program of the provincial government of South Cotabato.

He recalled that last year, his office released some P1.9 million (US$34,824) for the SEA-K, a conglomeration of women's livelihood cooperatives all over the province, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region XII.

Pingoy said that most of the SEA-K beneficiaries recorded a return of investment of 80 to 90 per cent.

Bella Lechonsito, provincial social welfare and development officer, said some P3.19 million has been released by the second congressional office to at least 32 SEA-K groups since 2002.

On the other hand, the provincial government also released some P2.6 million to its 20 accredited SEA-K cooperatives which has a recorded membership of 600 individuals.

Last year, she said the provincial government released some P449,390 for a cooperative development program.

Of the amount, Lechonsito said P290,000 was earmarked as capital assistance and it paved the way for the creation of two SEA-K cooperatives with at least 55 members.

"We were really impressed with the performance of our SEA-K,s since their ROI has averaged 90 per cent," she said.

Lechonsito said the provincial treasurer,s office reported that some P657,759 in rollback funds were deposited by the beneficiaries in the provincial SEA-K thrust fund since June 2004.

Aside from the SEA-K groups assisted by the provincial government and the second congressional office, the DSWD had created at least 99 SEA-K groups in the province since 2005.

The DSWD has released some P11 million for the SEA-Ks which have a total membership of over 2,000 women.

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