Girls scouts urged to join fight vs climate change
By: Rachelle Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) --- The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Negros Oriental-Siquijor Council is urging all Girl Scouts and its troop leaders to actively participate in GSP's advocacy on climate change.
Local Council President Dr. Profetiza Lim in a circular sent to all school principals and GSP point persons in Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces called for the conduct of planting activities such as fruit-bearing, forest or vegetable gardens in their respective schools, districts and communities.
The San Jose GSP District was the first to respond to Lim's call and launched their own planting project on February 4, said local council executive Rosario Rosales.
Rosales said all 39 districts under the local GSP council here and in Siquijor province are required to spearhead planting projects in their areas starting this month.
GSP is actively taking part in the campaign against climate change in line with the UN Development Goals on the preservation of Mother Earth which is included in the agenda of the World Associate of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental)
Bayawan City “Sacadas” gets P1M for livelihood project
By Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE City Feb 18 (PIA) Some 77 sacada-families or seasonally employed migratory sugar workers in six barangays of Bayawan City will now have a stable source of livelihood through a P1million funding grant offered by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Of the total fund assistance, Bayawan City Mayor Rene Gaudiel has received the first release of check worth P481,500 from the DOLE this week.
Mayor Gaudiel said the sugar worker-families from barangays Malabugas, Nangka, Kalumboyan, Maninihon, Banga and Tayawan in Bayawan City will have each livelihood activity to augment their living conditions.
Through the Bayawan South Pedicab Drivers Operators Multi-Purpose Cooperative, as an accredited program proponent will facilitate the provision of animals for farming through livestock dispersal, poultry raising, establishment of micro-retail enterprises or sari-sari store, and inputs for vegetable production to migrant sugar workers.
According to Sr. Labor & Employment Officer Efren Vito said the project facilitator of DOLE, Claire Gantalao will closely monitor the activities of sacada-beneficiaries to ensure the project objectives are achieved and protect the families from exploitation.
Like Bonifacio Villahermosa, 57, from Barangay Tayawan has nine children will be given a water buffalo or carabao for farming. He used to in Luzon as a migratory sugar worker, but a sharp “lading” blade of his co-worker almost cut his left foot in half, so he’s replaced by his two young children working the same job.
Another beneficiary, Aida Bender with 12 children whom Guillermo, her husband left for Luzon as migrant sugar worker. Aida will be provided some livestock to care for and hopefully buy one sack of rice a month to supplement her husband’s remitted meager amount to feed their children.
DOLE official said under this integrated services for migratory sugar workers (I-SERVE Sacadas) project helps families out from their basic needs and reunite their family members. (PIA/JCT)
DOLE7 releases fund assistance to Maria Goretti’s Sacada project
By Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY Feb 17 (PIA) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here has released the sum of more than P 360,000 on Monday to St. Maria Goretti Educational Foundation, Inc. as the first tranche for I-SERVE Sacada Project Fund Assistance.
Goretti Foundation President Msgr Merlin Logronio received personally the amount for livelihood assistance for the 41 migratory sugar workers of Barangay Candana-ay, Ayungon. The assistance includes capacity building for the beneficiaries to empower and equip them to manage its organization and projects.
In a turn-over activity, DOLE7 Division Chief of Technical Support Division Maria Nancy Abad explained that the fund intends to alleviate the economic condition of migratory sugar workers by providing livelihood assistance and emergency employment.
Under the I-SERVE Sacada project, the families of the sugar workers in Brgy Canadana-ay will be organized to prepare for micro-enterprise development and improve farm production which also include farm-to market road repair in the barangay.
For his part, regional director Elias Cayanong of DOLE expressed confidence for the project to lessen abuses and exploitation experienced by seasonal sugar workers.
Dir Cayanong said with the support of local government of Ayungon this project will improve the standard of living of the local farmers.
According to Sr. Labor & Employment Officer Efren Vito of DOLE-7 the project I-SERVE or Integrated Services for Migratory Sugar Workers is guided by the President Aquino’s social contract and the 22-point labor and employment agenda to ensure the protection of vulnerable workers through capacity building and livelihood. (PIA/JCT)