INTEGRATING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS

INTEGRATING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS

The Philippine government has long recognized the importance of livelihood programs in fighting poverty and uplifting communities. Several National Government Agencies (NGAs), such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), have their own livelihood initiatives, each designed to address specific sectors and needs. This is good news — but it also raises an important question: Are these programs well-coordinated, or are they running in silos, duplicating efforts and missing opportunities for synergy?

I can’t help but look back to my own experiences around forty years ago, when I was actively involved in government livelihood programs under the then Ministry of Human Settlements (MHS). Back then, MHS adopted a forward-thinking strategy called "Shelter cum Livelihood", which aimed to combine housing programs with income-generating opportunities for beneficiaries. The idea was simple yet powerful — helping people earn so they could sustain their mortgage payments and improve their lives.

I started my livelihood work with Bliss Marketing Corporation (Blissmark), a subsidiary of the Human Settlements Development Corporation (HSDC). Our mandate was to develop and market new products from the MHS livelihood projects. Later, I moved to the University of Life (UL), where we trained housing project beneficiaries in various livelihood skills. Eventually, I joined the National Livelihood Program Secretariat (NLPS), more commonly known as the Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran (KKK).

Looking back, one key lesson stood out: Marketing is the heart and soul of any livelihood program. Training, financing, and even packaging inputs are all important, but without strong marketing support, these livelihood products would end up collecting dust in storage rooms or local fairs. That was precisely why Blissmark was created — to fill the crucial gap of linking products to markets. Interestingly, many of the experts in Blissmark were recruited from San Miguel Corporation, bringing their marketing expertise into the government’s development efforts. I was fortunate to join them as a Group Product Manager, eventually earning the rank of Assistant Vice President.

I firmly believe that the Blissmark concept is still highly relevant today, especially considering the many housing projects across the country where beneficiaries struggle with mortgage payments. These families need livelihood opportunities, but more than that, they need a clear path to the market — proper product positioning, attractive packaging, and strong branding.

Fast forward to today, we see many livelihood programs being implemented by various NGAs, including DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and DOLE’s Kabuhayan Program. These programs provide essential support — from seed capital and tools to skills training and employment facilitation. They empower communities, especially the poor and vulnerable, to create sustainable incomes. However, the question remains: Are these programs helping to create products that can compete in the market? Are they tapping into market experts who can guide beneficiaries on branding, pricing, and product development?

The DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) does a commendable job of combining microenterprise development with employment facilitation, helping beneficiaries build businesses or find gainful employment. DOLE’s Kabuhayan Program likewise provides funding, training, and materials to help vulnerable groups create and sustain small businesses. These efforts are valuable, but I can’t help but wonder: How often do these agencies coordinate with each other, or with local government units (LGUs), to ensure that products from different programs are not just viable but also competitive?

It’s heartbreaking to see some livelihood products being poorly positioned, poorly packaged, and lacking a strong brand identity. These products, if only improved, could command better prices and generate better incomes for the beneficiaries. I sincerely hope that NGAs, LGUs, and even private sector partners could integrate marketing strategies into every livelihood program. This is not just about creating products — it’s about creating products that sell.

If some LGUs have their own livelihood products, I would be more than willing to connect them with experts who could help with product positioning, packaging, and branding. After all, sustainable livelihood does not end at production — it thrives when products find markets, and when markets see value in these products.

More importantly, the spirit of collaboration must prevail. DSWD, DOLE, DTI, DA, and other agencies all have excellent livelihood programs. But if these efforts could be integrated into a cohesive, market-driven approach, the impact would multiply many times over.

Let’s work together — national agencies, LGUs, civil society, and even private corporations — to harmonize livelihood programs into a truly sustainable ecosystem, one that empowers communities not just to produce, but to profit. Let’s make sure every livelihood product is market-ready, every entrepreneur is equipped to succeed, and every community is given a fair shot at prosperity.

In the end, sustainable livelihood is not just about skills and seed capital — it’s about opening doors to real markets and real opportunities. Let’s integrate our efforts, so no Filipino livelihood product is left behind.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

04-11-2025

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