MANILA — The House Committee on Social Services, chaired by Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario, on Wednesday moved to consolidate seven bills that aim to institutionalize the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to ensure consistent funding.

The bills set for consolidation are House Bills (HB) 1247, 1705, 2580, 3785, 5255, 6103, and 6763, with HB 6763 serving as the working draft for being most aligned with DSWD’s current program.

Paranaque Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said the SLP is not just another “ayuda” program, noting that it supports Filipinos in moving toward self-sufficiency through the development of micro-enterprises. Qualified beneficiaries are provided seed capital to start their own businesses.

He cited an example of a beneficiary who invested in a freezer for her sari-sari store, which later allowed her to become a beverage supplier in her community.

Pinoy Workers Partylist Rep. Franz Ferdinand Legazpi said the bill’s passage will help Filipinos gain additional income through entrepreneurial activities, allowing them not only to provide for their families but also to create jobs.

“Passage of this bill will ensure more Filipino families have the chance to build or rebuild their lives and have a path for a greater future,” Legazpi said.

DSWD Director Marifel De Leon presented the SLP’s two program tracks to the committee: Employment Facilitation, which endorses beneficiaries for employment with DSWD partner agencies, and Enterprise Development for those seeking to start or scale up a business.

The Committee also referred to the Technical Working Group (TWG), chaired by Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, House Bill 7313, which seeks to increase the compensation of government social workers.