By April Mae O. Espada
VILLABA, Leyte, Sept. 6 (PNA) – World Vision has distributed pedicabs (cycle rickshaw) on Saturday to poor families in this town.
The initiative aims to provide livelihood assistance for breadwinners to regain their lost source of income for people living in Silad village, one of the hardly-hit areas during the 2013 catastrophe.
World Vision identified the beneficiaries through data gathering pertaining to the need, vulnerability and ability of the person.
“We prefer giving out pedicabs because this is what we think as the fastest way to recover their livelihood,” said World Vision West Leyte team leader Louie Bullanday.
Pedicabs, which usually carry two to three passengers, is one of the local means of transportation in Leyte province.
The non-government organization (NGO) distributed 18 pedicabs in the village.
Likewise, the NGO has also provided similar livelihood assistance to Merida, Leyte wherein they received 31 pedicabs and 4 in Matag-ob, Leyte.
Livelihood recovery kicked off last year where they also provided livestock on poultry, skills training, crops inputs like seeds and fertilizer in some other towns.
I wish they will use this to sustain their basic needs, including financing their children’s education,” Bullanday said.
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization assisting 70 million people each year in its quest to end poverty, and fight hunger and transform lives. (PNA)