Three (3) special awards were brought home by the Department of Labor and Employment XI during the DOLE Kabuhayan Awards 2021, a recognition of the outstanding accomplishments exemplified by the beneficiaries, implementers, and partners relative to the implementation of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), conducted through a virtual platform on November 3, 2021.

The DOLE XI Livelihood Team won the Top Performing Region in Livelihood Implementation for having the most outstanding achievements in terms of timely submission of report, physical and financial accomplishments, minimal number of audit observations, and good practices/innovation initiated. The team also won the Top Performing Region in Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) Implementation for demonstrating significant efforts in providing technical support and other interventions to the beneficiaries of SLF in terms of timely submission of reports, facilitating/initiating SLF-related activities, and forging of partnerships.

And for the third time, Mr. Rodrigo O. Roble, Jr. won a special award at the national level. This year, Mr. Roble was hailed the Top Performing Regional TUPAD Focal Person for his valuable efforts in supervising and monitoring of the implementation of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in Davao Region.

“Congratulations to our winners, both in the national and regional level. We emerged victorious as one. This is the result of combined strengths and efforts to achieve our goals. These recognitions show our level of commitment to our mandate as a regional office. I am proud of each and every one of you,” said OIC- Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy.

The Kabuhayan Awards also recognized winners in the regional level. The winners for Best Regional DOLE-assisted livelihood project were the fish catching project of Ms. Evangeline C. Salvador and the grocery store project of the Samahang Manggagawa ng Lapanday-Guihing for individual and group categories, respectively. Mr. Eric T. Valiente, Livelihood Focal Person of Davao de Oro Field Office, and Ms. Cristita B. Coro, TUPAD Focal Person of Davao City Field Office, were selected by the regional office to receive the Best Performing Field Office Livelihood Focal Person awards. Lastly, the Local Government Unit of Kapalong, Davao del Norte and Manuel Guianga and Sirib Growers and Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (MAGSIGE) were recognized as Best LGU-Implementing DILP and Best Accredited Co- Partner-Implementing DILP, respectively.

Secretary Silvestre Bello III graced the event and delivered an inspiring message to the participants and awardees. “Ang tagumpay ng ating mga benepisyaryo ay sumasalamin sa epektibong pagtutulungan ng DOLE at ng iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan at pribadong sektor. Paparangalan din natin ang mga masisipag na kawani ng DOLE at mga partners natin na hindi alintana ang pagod at panganib para isakatuparan ang kabuhayan at TUPAD programs. Taos-puso ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong lahat, my dear co-workers. Sa lahat ng mga nagwagi sa Kabuhayan Awards, tanggapin ninyo ang aking mainit na pagbati sa inyong nakamit na tagumpay. (The success of our beneficiaries is a reflection of the productive collaboration among DOLE, other government agencies, and the private sector. We also recognize the hardworking men and women of DOLE and our partners who have braved the challenges and risks of pandemic in order to successfully implement the livelihood and TUPAD programs. My heartfelt gratitude to all of you, my dear co-workers. To all the winners of Kabuhayan Awards, please accept my sincere congratulations on this achievement). May your triumph inspire others to seek greater heights.”

Aside from recognizing the outstanding DOLE employees, partners, and projects, the Kabuhayan Awards aims to document and showcase the best practices in achieving viability and sustainability of businesses.