Head defends "Green Valley" workers

CEBU, Philippines - The Agriculturist Office of Talisay City yesterday denied reports that the workers for the city's "Green Valley Program" only come to the garden to sit down under the shade of the trees instead of tilling and tending the garden.

"Allowed man na sila mo-rest kung init na gyud kaayo. Ako na sila'ng giingnan nga kung maglisud na mo'g ginhawa tungod sa init, palandong dayon mo. So di na tinuod nga nagligoy-ligoy ra ang mga taga Green Valley," said Terisita Caparida, supervisor of the Green Valley Program.

Caparida's statement came after Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes was criticized for this project, which reportedly employs more workers than what was only needed.

As of yesterday, more than 50 men and women job order (JOs) workers were assigned to cultivate and plant vegetable seedlings to the garden adjacent to Talisay Plaza.

According to critics, only a few of these employees are actually working while most of them are sitting under the shade of the trees and talking to each other. Hence, productivity is low.

Caparida, however, admitted that there are a handful few who would come to the City Hall for attendance purposes, and leave after clocking in or out. She said she has already reported this to the Human Resources Office for sanctions.

"Naa man sad gyu'y mga tawo nga magsalig nga naa sila'y backer mao'ng di magtinarong kay bisa'g di pa i-renew sa HR ilang punch card, pasudlon man gihapon sila sa ilang backer," Caparida said.

As of the moment, Caparida said they need more hands to do the job as they are just starting, but once everything has been cultivated and paved, the number of workers will be reduced to half.

De los Reyes' Green Valley Program was launched last month and employed JOs who are paid P6,000 per month to plant vegetables to be later on sold to the public.

Last Tuesday, the city harvested 54 kilos of Chinese kangkong which were sold for P30 per kilo, and yesterday 50 kilos of pechay were reaped and sold for P50 per kilo.

The amount of money earned from the harvests may not be enough to compensate for the labor costs, but De los Reyes explained that the project is not a revenue-generating activity of the city but rather a tool to give "actual jobs" to the jobless. . — (FREEMAN)