Abstract:
The impact of the Livelihood Assistance Grant, cash assistance, to the bamboo weavers
and craftsmen in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, is questioned. The purpose of this study was to
characterize the situation of the bamboo industry before and during the pandemic. Also, it
discussed the implementation of the Livelihood Assistance Grant in the municipality.
Significantly, it analyzed the impact of the Livelihood Assistance Grant on the income,
expenditure, and welfare of bamboo weavers and craftsmen. Aside from this, it elicited
recommendations from the community to aid their recovery from the pandemic. This paper took a
case study of bamboo farmers, weavers, and craftsmen in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, to analyze
the Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) impact. It employed the purposive sampling technique to
determine survey respondents and interviewees in the top four barangay with the highest grantees.
Data was regressed, thematized, and analyzed, having the theory of change as a framework. The
study results showed that raw materials and output production significantly affects income, while
income and output production did not significantly affect the consumption expenditure of bamboo
weavers and craftsmen. Nonetheless, income and expenditure did significantly affect the welfare
of the respondents. The livelihood assistance grant did contribute to the income of the bamboo
weavers and craftsmen but not so much on consumption expenditure due to rising expenses.
However, its impact on welfare was immediate or short-term. The bamboo weavers and craftsmen
perceived they needed continuous support from the local government unit.
