KISLAP: Providing Sustainable Livelihood

Opportunities in Sitio Maislap, Brgy San Isidro

Hannah Grace V. De Guzman

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a
lifetime.”

The University of Rizal System Rodriguez Campus has launched an extension project called
KISLAP (Kami Isang Samahang Lakas Angat Pangkabuhayan) livelihood training program to give
opportunities for the selected residents of Sitio Maislap in Barangay San Isidro Rodriguez, Rizal. In
coordination with Kap. Mayet Hernandez of barangay San Isidro, allocated Pangkabuhayan
livelihood assistance to 16 recipients on September 2020 to January 2021.

This project is a livelihood formation strategy intended to uphold and improve the socio-
economic well-being of the program recipients and their community. A total of 16 recipients were
selected to join the KISLAP livelihood training program in Sitio Maislap. Amidst the pandemic, the
lockdown, and everyone facing a tough time with loss of jobs, this KISLAP came as a ray of hope to Sitio
Maislap.

Prof. Joanna Ruth Castillo has led the KISLAP extension project in the provision of opportunities
for income-generating activities and livelihood development. With the help of Prof. Maricel Maniaol,
Prof. Jennelyn Mercado, and Mrs. Michelle Garcia to make this extension project possible. They
encouraged the participants to open their minds to the new knowledge, their hearts for the willingness
to learn, and their hands to accept new skills.

According to the Information Office of Barangay San Isidro, Sitio Maislap is one of the
impoverished in 16 sitios of Barangay San Isidro Rodriguez, Rizal. Based on the data gathered from the
barangay, the primary sources of living of people of the barangay is quarry and crusher (30%), farming
(40%), business & trade (15%), animal industry (5%) and professional employment (10%). KISLAP aims to
provide support to underprivileged Sitio Maislap residents.

Resilience is thought to be one of Sitio Maislap’s greatest traits, that no matter how badly a
pandemic or an upheaval strikes, we can always get by and think of ways to survive and adapt. It is a
good thing that we think we can always rise from any problem no matter how sunk-deep we are, there
will always be ways to stay afloat.