The town of Guimbal in Iloilo is among the 19 pilot areas of the nationwide program of the Department of Labor and Employment for poor informal sector workers.

Guimbal is the only area identified as recipient of the as Unlad Kabuhayan Program Laban sa Kahirapan program in Western Visayas. DOLE said the Unlad Kabuhayan or "The Worktrep Program" is aimed towards "making the business of the poor grow," and essentially acts as a bridge that will effectively transform the poor IS workers into real, trained, and productively networked "worktrepreneurs" of the country.

This year, Unlad Kabuhayan Program will be first piloted by some 19 cities or municipalities and will be demonstrated in 32 selected municipalities/cities.

The implementation of the program will involve four primary services to assist in the growth of IS worktreps' small businesses.

These include: the Worktrep Training Services consisting of five training modules including production skills training, business management, productivity, occupational safety and health, human relations and confidence building;

Worktrep Business Advisory Services, which give IS-Worktreps access to market, technology, and credit;

Worktrep Social Protection Services to facilitate access to formal government social protection like the Social Security System and PhilHealth as well as alternative, and non-conventional social protection schemes; and,

Worktrep Networking Services paving the way for participation and community support through business alliances, association, partnership, cooperative, or corporation.*NLG

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