By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Ilonggos beamed with gratitude for the help provided by key national government agencies to jumpstart the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secretaries Silvestre Bello III of the Department of Labor and Employment and Wendel E. Avisado of the Department of Budget and management, and Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration arrived in the city Tuesday to turn over the assistance facilitated by the office of Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda.
Among the assistance provided by the three agencies were NegoKarts that aim to provide livelihood to some Ilonggos affected by the pandemic.
“Pa-agi sa paghatag ni Cong. Jam, kag sa mga bisita naton subong si Sec. Bello, si Sec. Avisado kag si Sir Cacdac, makabulig guid ang nahatag nila nga opportunity,” according to Marlon Sedotes, a fruit vendor from Brgy. Oñate de Leon, Mandurriao and a recipient of DOLE’s NegoKart Program.
Sedotes said the assistance will also benefit his family as they can take turns in selling their produce.
“Maka-negosyo gid kami kag makadugang-dugang sa pang-adlaw-adlaw,” he added.
Elna Guirjen of Brgy. Desamparados, Jaro, a beneficiary of the NegoKart Program, beamed with joy upon receiving the NegoKart.
“Dako gid nga bulig sa amon. Salamat gid kay Sec. Bello, Sec. Avisado, Atty. Cacdac kag sa pinalanga namon nga Congresswoman Baronda”.
Guirjen, who works in a karinderia and used to sell kitchenware and other household items, plans to use the cart to sell fried food and other frozen goods.
Punong Barangay Nestor Lobaton of Brgy. Desamparados, Jaro also thanked the cabinet secretaries for committing to bring more projects to Ilonggos.
“Nagapasalig sila nga dugangan proyekto kag ang DOLE madugangan,” Lobaton said, referring to DOLE livelihood programs for his constituents.
Lobaton also extended his gratitude to Rep. Baronda for the projects she facilitated on their behalf.
“Nagpasalamat guid kami kay Cong. Jam kay gin dala ya ang mga proyekto diri sa amon kay madamo gid sang gin buligayan ya,” he added.
DUTERTE’S DIRECTIVE
In their individual messages, all agency heads said the Duterte Administration is committed to aiding our people rise above the pandemic by increasing program support.
“Kagaya ng sinabi ni Presidente Duterte, and pera ng gobyerno ay pera ng tao. Kaya, ibigay niyo sa tao,” said DOLE Sec. Bello during his message at Casa Real de Iloilo before key officials from the Iloilo City and Provincial Governments.
In agreement with his colleague in the executive branch, DBM Sec. Avisado said “There is no better time for the government to emphasize its care and support to our people.”
He also thanked Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Mayor Jerry P. Trenas, as well as Rep. Baronda for aiding the national government deliver its services to the people.
Avisado noted Baronda’s HOPE campaign or programs focused on health, obra or employment, peace and order, and education. He emphasized its alignment to the mandate of DBM.
“We are thankful our national government has expressed their support for both Iloilo City and the Province of Iloilo,” Baronda said. “I’m glad that Sec. Avisado recognizes the importance of our HOPE platform in our recovery.”
INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
DOLE Regional Director Cyril Ticao said an estimated PHP152-million was released to some 15,000 displaced workers in Region 6.
According to Ticao, through DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program or TUPAD, around PHP369-million was spent for at least 84,000 individuals.
TUPAD is a community-based livelihood program that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers for a period of 10-30 days, depending on the nature of the work.
Some PHP45-million in assistance is allocated for DOLE’s programs such as the Government Internship Program (GIP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program (TUPAD), and COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP).
This aid will be facilitated in collaboration with the Lone District Office.
“Around 4,000 – 4,500 are set to benefit from these programs,” Baronda said. “We are thankful for this support as it will grant our fellow Ilonggos who have lost their livelihoods because of the pandemic the opportunity to provide for their needs as well as of their family’s,” she said.
From July 2019 to December of last year, PHP47-million in financial assistance was facilitated by the Baronda’s office for employment and livelihood programs for the residents of the city.
Aside from this, another PHP8-million was released to individuals whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19 last year.
HISTORIC ASSISTANCE FOR OFWS
OWWA Administrator Cacdac revealed a 250% increase in direct payment beneficiaries for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under the Duterte Administration.
The number of OFWs who received the aid directly from OWWA’s trust fund now stands at 300,000 to 400,000.
Cacdac added that this monetary assistance does not include the other benefits OFWs enjoy such as repatriation and sheltering.
Cacdac also noted an allocation of PHP6.2-billion for 2021 for their emergency repatriation fund.
Ticao also said that DOLE extended around PHP4-million in cash assistance to 145 dependents of OFWs.
As of February 2021, a total of 67,576 OFWs from Western Visayas, of which 6,731 were from Iloilo City, have arrived safely in the country through OWWA’s repatriation program.
On Tuesday, OWWA organized a symbolic turnover of assistance for its beneficiaries for programs such as the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program, DOLE-AKAP, Project EASE and Tabang OFW.
Sec. Bello encouraged Ilonggos to get acquainted with both DOLE and OWWA’s programs as for them gauge if they are eligible for assistance. He also mentioned that the DOLE and its attached agencies have more than 1000 vacancies of which anybody is welcome to apply.
Both Sec. Bello and Sec. Avisado thanked the local leaders for collaborating with their agencies in delivering programs to their constituents.
“We thank Sec. Bello, Sec. Avisado and Administrator Cacdac for their overwhelming support. We are grateful that they scheduled a briefing in our city as for them to see firsthand the positive effect the aid extended by their agencies and departments have had on the Ilonggos. Further, we hope that this trip will allow them to assess what other programs and services we can allocate for the City of Iloilo,” Baronda said.
