Sustainable Livelihood Act of 2025

Olice of tie TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 29 P2:50 SENATE RECEIVLO Senate Bill No. _ Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM (SLP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Sections 9, Article Il of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. In 2011, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to help marginalized Filipinos break cycles of poverty through skills development, enterprise support, job facilitation, and community empowerment. It was initiated to transform government aid from short- term relief into sustainable socio-economic progress. This representation believes that the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is more than just assistance - it empowers individuals

by providing them the skills and support they need to move from dependence to self-reliance and a better future. This bill seeks to institutionalize DSWD's SLP as an enhanced livelihood capability-building program that provides assistance in the form of microenterprise development and employment facilitation for the vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals, households, and communities. In view of the foregoing, the passage of the measure is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO

All to of tra TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) JUL 29 P2:51 RECEIVLDO SENATE Senate Bill No. 766 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM (SLP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Sustainable

Livelihood Act of 2025."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy

5 of the State to promote livelihood development and entrepreneurship 6 as a means to achieve sustainable development. It is likewise the policy of the State to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged sectors through sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) Cash for Building Livelihood Assets Fund (CBLAF) refers to allowance or stipend provided to SLP Association

members who have rendered work for labor-intensive projects to build, re-build, and/or protect natural and physical assets necessary for more profitable, self-sustaining, and resilient micro-enterprises; (b) Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) refers to a grant provided for: 1) processing of employment documentary requirements; 2) required medical exams; 3) purchase of basic employment tools and materials; and 4) transportation and meal allowance, and board and lodging until the first fifteen (15) days of employment; (c) Employment Facilitation (EF) refers to a track of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) that provides assistance to eligible beneficiaries who preferred employment rather than engaging micro-enterprise; (d) Micro-enterprise Development Track (MD Track) refers to a track of the SLP that provides financial capital, enhancement of skills, and building/re-building physical and natural assets; (e) National Housing Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) refers to the information management system that uses empirical methods to compile a database of who and where the country's poor are. It shall also referred to as the "DSWD's Listahanan"; (f) Seed Capital Fund (SCF) refers to a start-up grant to purchase raw materials, small tools, and common service facilities such as machinery, equipment, and plants needed in starting or expanding a micro-enterprise; (g) Skills Training Fund for Micro-Enterprise Development Track (STF-MD) refers to a grant that is used for the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed by the SLP

Association or its members in the management of a micro- enterprise; (h) Skills Training Fund for Employment Facilitation (STF- EF) refers to a grant to be used for the acquisition of technical and vocational knowledge and skills delivered in the form of orientations and lectures, demonstrations, and other similar skills acquisition methodologies for the participants. The grant covers the following components: 1) technical- vocational skills training fee; 2) meal, lodging, and transportation allowance; c) training supplies and materials; and d) program participants' assessment fee; and (i) Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) refers to an association with a minimum of 15 members organized by the DSWD and is issued with a Certificate of Accreditation to be eligible for assistance under the Micro- Enterprise Development Track.

SEC. 4. Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). - The

Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is hereby institutionalized as an enhanced livelihood capability-building program that provides assistance in the form of microenterprise development and employment facilitation for the identified vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals, households, and communities.

SEC. 5. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to eligible vulnerable,

marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals, households, and communities, identified through the National Housing Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). Priority shall be given to: a) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries transitioning to self-sufficiency; b) Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPA), organized by the DSWD; and

c) Indigenous peoples (IPs), persons with disabilities and (PWDs), solo parents, senior citizens, conflict/disaster-affected communities.

SEC. 6. Modalities of Assistance. - The SLP shall have two (2)

6 tracks: (i) Micro-Enterprise Development Track (MD Track) and (ii) 7 Employment Facilitation Track (EF Track). MD Track shall have the following modalities: a) Seed Capital Fund; b) Skills Training Fund; and c) Cash for Building Livelihood Assets Fund. EF Track shall have the following modalities: a) Employment Assistance Fund; and b) Skills Training Fund.

SEC. 7. Sustainability Plan. -The DS WD is hereby mandated to

develop a Sustainability Plan that will serve as a framework for SLP towards its long-term stability to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the eligible vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals, households, and communities. The Sustainability Plan shall include SLP's priorities, activities, and phases of implementation which includes continuous monitoring and technical assistance livelihood projects, capability-building activities, and partnership linkages.

SEC. 8. Role of the Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD). - The DSWD shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring body of this Act.

In the implementation of this Act, the DSWD shall perform the 2 following functions: a) Develop the overall framework, guidelines, and operational procedures of the SLP; b) Identify eligible vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals, households, and communities under Section 5 of this Act; c) Coordinate with different national and local government agencies, including organizations from the private sector to ensure full implementation of this Act; d) Establish participatory monitoring and evaluation systems and methodologies on compliance of conditions, implementation of operations, and output and impact assessments; and e) Perform such other functions as may be necessary or incidental to the proper implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 9. SLP Report. - The DSWD shall publish an annual

report of the SLP covering the implementation of the previous year. It shall include financial disclosures, number of beneficiaries and recommendations to enhance the implementation of SLP. The report shall be submitted to Congress before the submission of President's Budget Message.

SEC. 10. SLP Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (SLP-

JCOC). - SLP Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby constituted to monitor and ensure the effective implementation of this Act, identify the deficiencies, limitations, and propose necessary amendments to address them. The Committee shall be composed of three (3) members each

1 from the Senate and House of Representatives to be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3 respectively. The Committee shall be jointly chaired by the respective 4 Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and 5 Rural Development and Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the 6 House of Representatives. The Minority in the Senate and House of Representatives shall each have at least one (1) seat in the Committee, as Co-Vice 10 Chairpersons. The Secretariat of the Committee shall come from the existing Secretariat personnel of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and Committee on Poverty 15 Alleviation of the House of Representatives. The SLP-JCOC shall conduct a hearing at least once every quarter to review the implementation of this Act and identify other necessary legislation.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety

(90) days from approval of this Act, the DSWD, in consultation with local government units, shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary in the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial

implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of DSWD. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of

this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances,

2 rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 3 Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 7 newspapers of general circulation. Approved,