Nine nominees from DSWD6 SLP qualify for 2025 Gawad Sulong finals

Iloilo City- A total of 9 nominees from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI qualify as grand finalists for the 2025 Gawad Sulong.

The Gawad Sulong is the official national rewards and recognition system for the SLP’s program stakeholders, including participants, partners, and personnel. It aims to recognize the dedication and celebrate the hard work of the people behind the program’s success. The awardees underwent a rigorous selection process, which included a field validation.

The following five SLP staff members from Field Office VI were nominated for their exceptional contributions to the program:

* Best Provincial Coordinator: Anthony C. Laruan

* Best Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer: Anthonnette Joy Hope V. Layson

* Best Implementing Project Development Officer: Asher D. Ventigan

* Best Monitoring Project Development Officer: Arlene Jane A. Waclyn

* Best Administrative Staff: Angel Grace G. Santander

Also recognized were exceptional program partners who have provided unwavering support for the program’s successful implementation in their respective areas. The finalists are:

* Best Program Partner (Local Government Unit Category): LGU of Tangalan, Aklan

* Best Program Partner (Academe Category): West Visayas State University – Janiuay Campus

* Best Program Partner (Private Sector): Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc.

Additionally, the TOBOSA Farmers Association, a micro-enterprise from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, has also advanced to the grand finals for the Best Micro-enterprise for Zero Hunger Category. This association has achieved self-sufficiency and self-government through the livelihood track.

SLP Regional Program Coordinator Juliet D. Besa congratulated all the staff, participants, and partners who made it to the finals, as well as those who represented the region and underwent the field validation stage. These include the Matag-ub SLPA from Iloilo Province for the Best Micro-enterprise Development Category and Kyle Lynard P. Tayag from Negros Occidental for Best Employment Facilitation Category.

“The remarkable number of grand finalists is not only a sign of success, but it also shows the unshakeable determination and resilience of the SLP community in the region. It reflects the countless hours of dedication from our hard-working and innovative staff, whose tireless efforts transformed challenges into opportunities. It celebrates the profound commitment of our supportive program partners, whose belief in our shared vision made the impossible possible. Most importantly, it is a tribute to our resilient program participants, who faced adversity with courage and perseverance for a better quality of life through thriving livelihood. This success is not just a win for a few; it is a victory for us all,” Besa emphasized.

The Gawad Sulong grand finalists will undergo their final interview on September 17-18, 2025, in Iloilo City. The grand winners will be announced at the Gawad Sulong on September 19, 2025, also to be held in Iloilo City./dswd6/cdf