CEBU, Philippines - To further reduce poverty and improve the quality of lives among the marginalized sector in the country, ten government agencies in Central Visayas worked together and signed a memorandum of understanding to implement President Benigno Aquino III’s “social contract†with the Filipino people.
This poverty reduction initiative aims to build capacities and creating opportunities while recognizing the vital role of farms and community-based enterprises in contributing to food security and economic growth.
The MOU’s signatories are officials of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region.
Isabelo R. Montejo, DENR-7 regional executive director said that the MOU provides a holistic approach as it involves almost all line agencies to ensure a more effective and efficient implementation of programs on poverty alleviation, job creation, food security, as well as a healthy and safe environment.
Montejo said that the MOU is an expanded convergence to ensure that their programs and projects, particularly those for community-based sustainable livelihood and enterprise development, will be complementary, harmonized and more inclusive to a wide swath of society.
Montejo added that the MOU specifically identifies priority and high-impact programs and projects from each of the ten agencies that have common interests and objectives, particularly those aimed at alleviating poverty in municipalities.
Among the identified new convergence programs include the DENR’s National Greening Program, DA’s Agri-Pinoy Program, DAR’s Program Beneficiaries Development, DILG’s Enhancing Economic Growth and Competitiveness of Local Government Units Program, DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program; DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, DTI’s National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project and DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program. (FREEMAN)