Maco, Compostela Valley Province –  Local transport groups in the far flung barangays of this town are now ready to put up their own vulcanizing shops and motorcycle parts and repair stores.

This after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Davao region has granted P600 thousand which will benefit a total of 294 beneficiaries for seven motorcycle associations.

Implemented through the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP),  the long-time dream of the motorcycle drivers locally known as habal-habal drivers will now be realized. Part of the grant was the counterpart of local government of Maco amounting to P194,598 and P40,000 from the association.

The Single Motors Drivers Associations will put up their shops in the route they ply covering barangays  Anibongan, Lapu-lapu, Dumilan, Libaylibay, Sangab/New Visayas, Mapangi/Manipongol and Poblacion.

Anibongan Single Motor Drivers Association President Mario M. Cosare said they have wanted to put up the repair and vulcanizing shop since the demand for such services in their locality has been growing as habal-habal drivers have also grown in numbers but they lack fund to start the business.

“We are thankful that with the assistance of DOLE we can start our dream of putting up a motorcycle repair and vulcanizing shops,” Cosare said.

Also, part of the grant will fund the bakeshop for the Panoraon Agricultural Farm Workers Association.

The assistance was recently awarded as part of the Serbisyo Caravan of the Association of Regional Executives and National Agencies (ARENA) 11 in partnership with the local government unit of Compostela Valley Province on April 10, 2015 at Brgy. New Leyte here.

Serbisyo Caravan is a flagship program of ARENA 11 since 2011 which aims to bring the government closer to the people especially those living in far flung and depressed areas.

“Aside from the labor force that belong to the formal, we also give our full support to informal sector including drivers association, small farmers and fisherfolk and others  to help them start and sustain their respective livelihood,” said DOLE Davao OIC-Assistant Regional Director Jason Balais.

Aside from Director Balais, Compostela Governor Arturo Uy and Vice Gov. Manuel Zamora personally handed the facsimile check to the beneficiaries. (Sherwin B. Manual /DOLE Davao)