By Michelle Ducut
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has disbursed PHP60 million under its Seed Capital Fund (SCF) program to beneficiaries in the fourth to sixth districts of Pangasinan. The funds, distributed between January 1 and November 20, have supported 1,156 individuals and 77 groups in the region.
According to Francis Bustamante, capability building officer of DSWD Eastern Pangasinan, the grants are designed to help recipients start or expand small businesses. Individual beneficiaries receive up to PHP15,000, while groups may qualify for grants ranging from PHP15,000 to PHP600,000, depending on the size of the group and the proposed business plan.
The SCF program provides cash assistance for the purchase of raw materials, small tools, and common service facilities such as machinery and equipment. Bustamante emphasized that the grant is a one-time allocation and is intended to help beneficiaries establish or enhance microenterprises.
Before receiving the grant, beneficiaries must undergo training to ensure they are prepared to manage the funds and implement their projects effectively. The DSWD will monitor fund utilization over a five-year period to assess the success of the funded projects and determine if further assistance is needed.
Recent recipients include groups from Asingan town, where projects such as vegetable farming, aquaculture, and general merchandise retailing have been proposed. Collectively, these groups received around PHP2 million in funding.
The DSWD encourages interested individuals and groups to inquire about the SCF program at its offices. The initiative is part of the department’s broader efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and economic self-sufficiency among marginalized communities.