DOLE Livelihood & Skills Programs: DILP, Kabuhayan & Digital Skills

DOLE's Livelihood Programs Overview

Beyond employment facilitation and wage subsidies, DOLE operates a comprehensive suite of livelihood programs designed to help Filipino workers create their own income opportunities. These programs recognise that not all workers seek traditional employment — many prefer self-employment, micro-enterprise, or cooperative-based livelihoods.

In 2026, DOLE's livelihood programs have undergone significant modernisation to incorporate AI tools, digital skills, and technology-enabled business models, reflecting the growing opportunities in the digital economy for micro-entrepreneurs and freelancers.

DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP)

What Is DILP?

The DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) is the department's flagship livelihood and emergency employment programme. It provides two main types of assistance:

1. Livelihood (Starter Kit/Grant) Component:

• Individual grants of up to PHP 20,000 for solo livelihood projects
• Group grants of up to PHP 200,000 for community-based or cooperative projects
• Funds can be used for tools, equipment, raw materials, and working capital
• In 2026, digital equipment (smartphones, tablets, laptops) can be included in approved livelihood kits

2. Emergency Employment Component:

• Similar to TUPAD, providing temporary work for 10-30 days at minimum wage
• Community-based projects combined with skills training
• Includes digital literacy and AI awareness modules

DILP for Digital and AI Livelihoods

DOLE has expanded DILP to support technology-enabled livelihood projects:

Digital Starter Kits:

• Equipment packages for online freelancing (laptop, internet dongle, basic software)
• E-commerce starter kits (smartphone, product photography setup, shipping supplies)
• Digital services kits (graphic design software, AI tools subscriptions, printing equipment)
• Online food business kits (smartphone for delivery apps, food processing equipment, packaging)

AI-Enhanced Livelihood Projects: Approved DILP livelihood projects in 2026 can include AI components:

• Using AI tools for product photography and listing optimisation on e-commerce platforms
• AI-assisted content creation for social media marketing of micro-businesses
• AI-powered customer service chatbots for small businesses
• AI tools for bookkeeping, inventory management, and financial planning
• AI-assisted crop planning and market price monitoring for agricultural livelihoods

How to Apply for DILP

1. Visit your DOLE Regional/Provincial/Field Office or Public Employment Service Office (PESO)
2. Determine your eligibility — target beneficiaries include:
   • Unemployed or underemployed workers
   • Displaced workers (terminated, retrenched, or affected by disasters)
   • Informal sector workers seeking to establish or expand livelihood
   • OFW families and dependents
   • Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities
3. Submit a livelihood project proposal including:
   • Description of the livelihood activity
   • Estimated costs and breakdown
   • Expected income and sustainability plan
   • Number of beneficiaries (for group projects)
4. Attend assessment — DOLE evaluates project viability and beneficiary eligibility
5. Receive approval and funding — grants are disbursed in cash or in kind (equipment/materials)
6. Complete mandatory training — includes business management, financial literacy, and in 2026, digital skills
7. Implement livelihood project — DOLE monitors progress and provides follow-up support

Kabuhayan Program

What Is Kabuhayan?

"Kabuhayan" (which means "livelihood" in Filipino) refers to DOLE's various livelihood starter kit distribution programmes implemented at the regional and local level. While DILP is the national framework, Kabuhayan programmes are often implemented in response to specific events or community needs.

Kabuhayan Starter Kits

DOLE distributes Kabuhayan starter kits to qualified beneficiaries, typically worth PHP 5,000 to PHP 15,000 per kit:

Traditional Kabuhayan Kits:

• Sari-sari store (convenience store) starter kits
• Food processing kits (meat processing, baking, kakanin making)
• Agricultural kits (vegetable farming, livestock raising)
• Fishing kits (gear, nets, boat repair materials)
• Beauty parlour and barbershop kits
• Sewing and tailoring kits

Digital Kabuhayan Kits (New in 2026):

• Online selling kit: Smartphone, ring light, product backdrop, GCash/Maya setup, AI product description writer subscription
• Digital freelancer kit: Refurbished laptop, internet dongle, online freelancing platform accounts, AI writing and design tools
• E-loading and digital services kit: Smartphone, e-loading software, wifi vendo equipment, digital payment terminal
• Social media marketing kit: Smartphone, content creation tools, AI scheduling and analytics apps, basic advertising budget

Kabuhayan Plus AI Training

All Kabuhayan kit recipients in 2026 receive mandatory training that includes:

1. Business basics (3 days): Business planning, pricing, basic accounting, customer service
2. Financial literacy (1 day): Budgeting, savings, digital payments (GCash, Maya), lending awareness
3. Digital skills (2 days): Smartphone and internet basics, social media for business, online selling platforms
4. AI tools for micro-business (1 day): AI product photography, AI content creation, AI bookkeeping, AI customer communication

AI and Digital Skills Training Programs

DOLE Digital Skills for Livelihood

DOLE has developed a modular digital skills training programme specifically for livelihood beneficiaries:

Module 1: Digital Foundations (8 hours)

• Smartphone and computer basics
• Internet navigation and online safety
• Email, messaging, and social media accounts
• Digital payments setup (GCash, Maya, online banking)

Module 2: E-Commerce Skills (16 hours)

• Setting up an online store (Shopee, Lazada, Facebook Marketplace)
• Product photography and AI-enhanced listing creation
• Order management and customer communication
• Shipping and logistics for online selling
• AI tools for pricing optimisation and market research

Module 3: Digital Marketing (16 hours)

• Social media marketing basics (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)
• Content creation with AI tools (images, videos, captions)
• Online advertising basics (Facebook Ads, Google Ads)
• Analytics and performance tracking
• AI-powered scheduling and posting tools

Module 4: AI for Micro-Enterprise (8 hours)

• Introduction to AI tools accessible on smartphones
• AI writing assistants for business communication
• AI image generation for marketing materials
• AI bookkeeping and financial management apps
• AI customer service chatbots for small businesses
• AI-powered market analysis and business planning

DOLE-DICT Partnership

DOLE has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to expand digital skills training:

• Access to DICT's Digital Literacy Programme facilities and trainers
• Free internet access at DICT community centres for livelihood beneficiaries
• Joint AI awareness campaigns in communities
• Technology mentoring for livelihood beneficiaries through DICT volunteers

Monitoring and Sustainability

DOLE monitors livelihood programme outcomes to ensure sustainability:

Follow-Up Activities:

• Monthly monitoring visits for the first 6 months
• Business mentoring and coaching
• Peer support group formation among beneficiaries
• Access to additional DOLE programs if initial livelihood faces challenges
• Market linkage assistance (connecting products to buyers)

Success Metrics:

• Business survival rate after 12 months
• Income increase compared to pre-programme levels
• Job creation (for livelihood projects that hire workers)
• Digital adoption rate among beneficiaries
• AI tool usage and productivity improvements

How Pertama Partners Supports DOLE Livelihood Programs

Pertama Partners contributes to DOLE's livelihood ecosystem by providing AI and digital skills training content tailored for micro-enterprise contexts:

• AI for micro-business training modules designed for non-technical workers
• E-commerce optimisation using AI tools for small Filipino businesses
• Digital marketing with AI for community-based enterprises
• Train-the-trainer programs for DOLE livelihood facilitators on AI topics
• Technology mentoring for Kabuhayan programme beneficiaries

Contact us to learn about integrating AI skills into your livelihood and community development programs.

Regional Livelihood Priorities and AI Integration

DOLE livelihood programmes are adapted to regional economic contexts and opportunities:

National Capital Region (NCR) and Metro Manila

• Focus on digital services, online freelancing, and e-commerce livelihoods
• AI tools for urban micro-enterprise (food delivery, ride-hailing, digital services)
• High demand for digital Kabuhayan kits (online selling, social media marketing)
• Access to DICT digital literacy centres and co-working spaces

CALABARZON and Central Luzon (Regions III and IV-A)

• Manufacturing support livelihoods with AI quality tools
• Agricultural livelihoods with AI crop monitoring and market price apps
• E-commerce for handcraft and food producers
• Industrial zone proximity creates employment pathways from livelihood to formal jobs

Visayas (Regions VI, VII, VIII)

• Tourism-related livelihoods with AI-powered marketing and booking tools
• Fishing community livelihoods with AI weather and catch prediction tools
• Handicraft and weaving enterprises with e-commerce integration
• Disaster resilience livelihoods (the Visayas is typhoon-prone, making DILP emergency employment critical)

Mindanao (Regions IX-XIII and BARMM)

• Agricultural livelihoods (cacao, coffee, coconut, rubber) with AI-assisted farming
• Halal food enterprise development with digital marketing
• Conflict-affected community livelihood recovery
• Indigenous peoples' traditional livelihood enhancement with modern technology

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

• Highland agriculture and handicraft livelihoods
• Eco-tourism enterprise development with digital marketing
• Traditional weaving and woodcraft with e-commerce platforms
• Remote community connectivity and digital access programmes

Case Examples of AI-Enhanced Livelihoods

Example 1: Sari-Sari Store with Digital Payments

A Kabuhayan beneficiary in Quezon City received a traditional sari-sari store kit plus a smartphone with GCash and Maya setup. After completing digital skills training, the beneficiary uses AI-powered inventory management to track stock, accepts digital payments increasing sales by 30%, and uses AI-suggested pricing based on local market data.

Example 2: Online Freelancing from Rural Visayas

A displaced sugarcane worker in Negros Occidental received a digital freelancer Kabuhayan kit including a refurbished laptop and internet access. After DOLE digital skills and AI training, the beneficiary now earns PHP 15,000-25,000 monthly through online writing and virtual assistance using AI productivity tools, significantly exceeding previous agricultural income.

Example 3: Agricultural Cooperative with AI Tools

A group of 15 farmers in Bukidnon received a DILP group grant of PHP 150,000 for a cooperative agricultural enterprise. The grant included smartphones with AI-powered crop monitoring apps and a shared laptop for market price analysis. After training, the cooperative uses AI to optimise planting schedules, predict market prices, and sell directly to consumers through e-commerce platforms.

Long-Term Sustainability and Graduation

DOLE livelihood programmes are designed not as permanent support but as launch pads for sustainable self-employment:

Graduation Criteria

A beneficiary is considered to have "graduated" from the livelihood programme when:

• The enterprise has been operating for at least 12 months
• Monthly income meets or exceeds the regional poverty threshold
• The beneficiary no longer requires DOLE financial support
• The enterprise is creating employment opportunities for others (bonus criteria)

Post-Graduation Support

Even after graduation, former beneficiaries can access:

• DOLE market linkage and networking events
• Advanced training programs through TESDA
• Microfinance referrals for business expansion (DTI, DSWD, cooperative banks)
• Technology upgrade assistance through DICT partnerships
• Mentorship from successful livelihood programme graduates

Scaling from Livelihood to Enterprise

DOLE programmes connect with other government agencies for beneficiaries ready to scale:

• DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) — Business registration, Negosyo Centre services, MSME development
• DA (Department of Agriculture) — Agricultural enterprise support, market linkages, farm technology
• DSWD — Sustainable Livelihood Program for 4Ps beneficiaries, community-driven development
• CDA (Cooperative Development Authority) — Cooperative formation and development for group enterprises

This ecosystem approach ensures that DOLE livelihood beneficiaries have a clear pathway from emergency assistance to sustainable, technology-enabled self-employment.