SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS VERSUS FOOD HANDOUTS

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS VERSUS FOOD HANDOUTS

As I understand it, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been implementing a Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) aimed at empowering individuals and families to break free from the cycle of poverty. This program has become particularly relevant for graduates of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), who are being offered the chance to start their own livelihood projects. The idea is simple yet profound: those who have been receiving assistance should eventually be able to stand on their own.

This brings to mind the age-old proverb, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." At its core, the saying illustrates the enduring truth that teaching people skills is far more valuable than giving them temporary aid. The former empowers; the latter sustains only momentarily.

It’s essential that we understand the distinction between poverty alleviation and poverty reduction. Food handouts, whether in the form of rice, canned goods, or cash, are a form of alleviation. They are necessary—especially in times of crisis or disaster—but they are not liberating. They ease the pain of hunger, but they do not solve the deeper issue of poverty reduction.

Sustainable livelihood programs, on the other hand, represent poverty reduction. These programs aim to help individuals earn a living, climb above the poverty line, and stay there. They do not merely make poverty easier to endure; they help remove people from its grip entirely.

That said, both approaches are important. Food handouts provide short-term relief, while livelihood programs build long-term resilience. But herein lies the challenge: how do we ensure that people move from relief to resilience? That those who are given "fish" eventually learn how to fish—and even start teaching others?

For years, the question has lingered: Which agency should take the lead in livelihood creation? I used to think it should be the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), given its mandate. But over time, it has become clear that many agencies are now contributing in their own ways.

Today, livelihood efforts are spread across a multitude of government institutions:

  • DSWD with its SLP
  • DTI through micro-enterprise support
  • DA with agricultural programs
  • DENR with eco-based livelihoods
  • DOST through technology support
  • DILG via community-based initiatives
  • TESDA through vocational training
  • And even CHED, indirectly, through its State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) that offer skills-based education

Ironically, some of these same agencies—like DOLE, DSWD, and DILG—are also involved in distributing food or cash handouts. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. But it underscores the need for coordination and clarity.

Wouldn’t it make sense to have a centralized system or website that tracks both livelihood and handout programs across agencies? Such a platform could help identify who is still receiving handouts and who has been given the tools to earn a livelihood. It could even monitor progress and outcomes, ensuring that people truly "graduate" from dependency to self-reliance.

In the end, we must accept that sustainable livelihood programs and food handouts are not opposing forces—but complementary ones. Food handouts are the band aids; livelihood is the cure. Our challenge as a society is to ensure that those who are hungry today have something to eat; while working diligently to ensure they don’t stay hungry tomorrow.

What are we doing today to teach more people how to fish? And just as important: who’s keeping track?

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

06-10-2025

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