An initial 20 piglets were released to members of the San Jose Multi-Purpose Cooperative to support the association’s hog fattening and meat shop livelihood projects.

The project is funded under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) with the cooperative as the co-partner.

“Each of the 10 members of the cooperative received two piglets for the hog fattening and meat shop project,” said Ma. Cecilia Acebuque, DOLE Antique provincial director, in an interview on Friday.

A PHP1.5 million check was released to the cooperative last month for the procurement of 40 piglets. The remaining heads are expected to be released soon to their beneficiaries.

“The project has 26 beneficiaries; 20 will be engaged in hog fattening while the six others will be in the operation of their meat shop,” Acebuque said.

The hogs will be sold to the cooperative after three months. The cooperative, as its counterpart, will establish the meat shop.

Meanwhile, in 2025, DOLE released around PHP12.6 million for the various livelihood projects of 514 beneficiaries.

“We are now accepting proposals from the local government units, academe, non-government organizations, or individuals for the DILP this 2026,” Acebuque said. (PNA)