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Published in
Academic Frontiers
Evaluating the Contribution of the Livelihood Program to Community Development
Academic Frontiers, 2(9), 50-61, ISSN: 3082-4400, 2026.
Recommended Citation:
Bayacsan, A. A., Kinchasan, G. U., Galleo, M. L., Lumaban, A. L., & Waclin, R. C. C. (2026). Evaluating the Contribution of the Livelihood Program to Community Development. Academic Frontiers, 2(9), 50–61. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23282003
Author(s)
Bayacsan, Angelo A., Kinchasan, Gerald U., Galleo, Marites L., Lumaban, Analyn L., Waclin, Ruth Claire C.
Abstract
Community extension programs play a vital role in promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities and improving the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities. This study evaluated the livelihood program implemented through the King's College of the Philippines (KCP) S.H.A.R.E.S. Extension Program in Sitio Balococ, Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet. Specifically, it examined the program's implementation process, identified the challenges beneficiaries encountered, and proposed interventions to enhance its sustainability. Employing a qualitative participatory research design, the study involved beneficiaries of the livelihood program selected through snowball sampling. The study gathered data through semi-structured interviews and analyzed them using First-Cycle In Vivo Coding, following Saldaña's qualitative analysis framework. The findings revealed that the livelihood program successfully enhanced beneficiaries' technical skills through structured training, enabled home-based livelihood production, provided supplementary household income, reduced daily food expenses, and fostered confidence and self-reliance among participants. However, beneficiaries encountered several challenges, including inadequate working capital, rising costs, limited raw material availability, difficulties in maintaining product quality, and restricted market access due to geographical isolation. To strengthen the program's sustainability, participants recommended expanding the training curriculum, providing practical learning materials, integrating financial management and digital marketing training, institutionalizing regular post-training mentoring and monitoring, and supporting the establishment of a community cooperative with a shared production facility. The study concludes that university-led extension programs can contribute to community development by combining technical skills training with continuing institutional support, entrepreneurial capacity building, and community partnerships. The findings provide empirical evidence to guide higher education institutions, local government units, and extension practitioners in designing more responsive, sustainable livelihood programs for geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities.
Keywords
Community Development, Community Extension Program, Livelihood Program, Sustainable Livelihood, University Extension Services, Qualitative Research
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