CEBU, Philippines - More than 18,000 individuals have been employed by various agencies under the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program in Central Visayas.
During the regular meeting of the Regional Development Council-7 called by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia recently, it was reported that more than 30 percent of the total employed from January to September this year was hired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Although, some government agencies reported positive results of the implementation of the livelihood program, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reportedly failed to implement it.
The same report said the DENR has suspended the implementation of its Bantay-Dagat, Bantay-Gubat and Extension Officer programs due to the non-release of Economic Stimulus Funds intended for emergency employment under the programs.
The RDC-7 has been informed that Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras of the Department of Agriculture is now looking into the problems raised by the regional office of the DA-7. The report of the Poverty Reduction and Peace Efforts committee also showed that majority of the agencies have completed the implementation of the poverty reduction program/project commitments in identified priority areas in Central Visayas in 2009.
Various infrastructure projects are being implemented by the 53rd Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army under the Kalayaan Barangays Program, in 18 selected barangays in seven municipalities in Negros Oriental.
As of November 19 this year, the following 13 Kalayaan Barangay Program projects have been completed: four school buildings, four water supply systems, two roads, one electrification project and two health centers. About 17 projects are still on-going.
The FREEMAN learned that these projects form part of the government’s commitments to the peace process.
The commitments were also solicited from selected line agencies to address the needs identified in the recent Community Needs Assessment. Gov. Garcia lauded the different national government agencies that worked hand in hand for the success of the projects that benefited the people of the region. — Jose P. Sollano/WAB (THE FREEMAN)