In an effort to address the growing number of unemployed individuals during this pandemic, the Quezon City government has launched QC Essentials, a line of essential products made by displaced and unemployed residents.
Through the QC Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotion Office (SBCDPO), the program aims to create a lasting brand of pandemic-essential products which will be produced by different sectors of QCitizens, providing livelihood opportunities for them to cope and recover from their struggles due to COVID-19.
“Following the old adage of “teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”, this program will provide our people with economic opportunities and help them provide for the daily essentials of their families,” Mayor Joy Belmonte shared.
QC Essentials will include products such as alcologne, handwash soap, dishwashing soap, among others. For its first run, 1000 solo parents from 30 barangays will be receiving livelihood starter kits to create alcologne.
Aside from the livelihood kits, solo parents will also be linked to possible customers such as establishments, restaurants, and other clients needing hygiene products.
SBCDPO Head Mona Yap explains how this program is not the usual livelihood program where materials are just provided to the beneficiaries.
“Usually, livelihood programs has a a one-way process where beneficiaries receive their starter kits, but here in QC, we want to make sure that they will also be provided with the right market so that they will truly gain sustainability,” SBCDPO Head Mona Yap said.
Solo parents who will be participating in the program will also undergo training and seminar with an accredited trainer from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
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