Strategy to alleviate poverty formalized

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 welcomed the effort of government agencies to improve the quality of life of the marginalized sectors of society.

A convergence strategy was formalized with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by officials of the DENR and the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Health (DOH), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Labor and Employment (DOLE), Science and Technology (DOST), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Tourism (DOT), and Trade and Industry (DTI).

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said that DENR Secretary Ramon Paje indicated that the agreement provides a holistic approach to ensure a more effective and efficient implementation of programs on poverty alleviation, job creation, food security, and healthy and safe environment.

The MOU is an expanded convergence that ensures the involved  agencies’ programs and projects, particularly those for community-based sustainable livelihood and enterprise development, will be complementary, harmonized and therefore more inclusive to a wide swath of society.

Montejo said that the MOU identifies priority and high-impact programs and projects from each of the 10 agencies aimed at alleviating poverty in municipalities.

The National Greening Program, which seeks to plant trees on 1.5 million hectares for six years ending in 2016, was identified as the DENR’s main contribution to the convergence, according to DENR-7 spokesperson Ed Llamedo.

Other government projects identified in the new convergence program include the Agri-Pinoy Program of DA, the Program Beneficiaries Development of DAR, the Enhancing Economic Growth and Competitiveness of Local Government Units Program of DILG, and the Integrated Livelihood Program towards Community Enterprise Development of DOLE.

The DOLE is also tasked to assist trainees of its attached agency, the Technical Education and Skills Development Training (TESDA), in creating community-based sustainable livelihood and enterprises.

Other contributing programs are DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program, the Sustainable Livelihood Program, particularly through the Micro-Enterprise Development Track or the Employment Facilitation Track of the DSWD and DTI’s National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project.

The MOU directs the DOH, through the Food and Drug Administration, to ensure the safety of all regulated products through monitoring.

The DOT, on the other hand, is directed to develop training modules and conduct training programs to upgrade the quality, competence and excellence in the delivery of tourism services.  (FREEMAN)