The Philippines, like many nations around the world, witnessed the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its economy. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were particularly vulnerable. This practice features the struggles faced by MSMEs during the pandemic, highlighting the resourcefulness and adaptability demonstrated by the Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) in Field Office I in the face of adversity.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of FO I adopted innovative solutions for the MSMEs, particularly, shifting to an online platform to help the SLPA survive the lockdown and social distancing enforced during the pandemic. To address the concern of marketing products by the SLPAs, FO I launched the SLP Transformative and Accelerated Livelihood Innovations for New Opportunities (TALINO), utilizing online platforms like Facebook Live to market their products. This facilitated their expansion into new markets, enabling them to not only sell their products but also passionately advocate the SLP program's mission of enhancing beneficiaries' lives and fostering sustained well-being.
This practice serves as evidence of the extra love and care to uplift the condition of the SLPAs. By providing new marketing avenues and fostering connections with wider markets, TALINO empowers program beneficiaries to recover and succeed not just during the pandemic but also in the post-pandemic era. The success of the SLP live online selling platform exemplifies the effectiveness of such programs and underscores the profound achievements realized when clients of the Department of Social Welfare and Development are empowered to proactively address their concerns.