Alcala, Pangasinan is the only town in Region 1 which scaled up to three (3) Self Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Level II  and  achieved a repayment rate of up to 96%. For this reason the  municipality received another Php 1,165,000.00 to support home improvement activities and micro-enterprise through the SEA-K Program.

Since this is the 3rd SEA-Level II in Alcala, Mayor Manuel Collado is very appreciative of the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 01. In turn, the LGU has been actively organizing  groups and helping out  another 100 families get additional income opportunities through capital  assistance and capability building of the SEA-K Program.

According to Mayor Collado, almost all barangays in his town have organized groups (SEA-K Level I) implementing small scale businesses. In fact, training sessions for the members will also be funded by the municipal government for the operations of a Bakeshop and production of vegetable-noodles.

“This is a proof that the help of the national government are reaching the community levels, Mayor Collado said. The members should be compliant in paying their monthly amortization so that DSWD will continue to provide capital assistance for other groups, he added.”

Director Leonardo C. Reynoso encouraged the SEA-Kabayan members to maintain good credit standing so they can also avail of assistance from formal lending institutions to support their small scale businesses. The SEA-K Program is just one of the poverty-reduction programs of DSWD which the Local Government Units can access for its eligible constituents.  (by: DSWD IO)