BY MARIBEL SINGCA
OLONGAPO CITY—Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda yesterday asked the village chiefs present during the orientation for barangay executives held at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel at Subic Freeport to promptly supply the seeds needed by farmers, expressing concern that the distribution seems to take a great deal of time.
“I noticed that the distribution of seeds take a great deal before they reach our farmers, Pineda said. Can we not confer directly to the barangay captains just to promptly supply these seeds?” Pineda suggested during the orientation of the different programs of national government agencies for barangays.
Pineda also suggested that the mayors and the municipal agriculturist should engage barangay captains in the enrollment of their farmers to crop insurance.
“Who among you here know who was paid by the crop insurance?” Pineda asked, referring to the barangay captains.
Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extensions Mr. Crispulo Baustista talked about the different programs in Agriculture and Livelihood prospects for Kapampangan farmers.
Among the program stated was the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process. A proposal based project aim to make national government more responsive to local needs, strengthen devolution of services, incentivize local governance.
The said process comprise of interventions, a production support services where provision of seeds originate; technical support services for trainings and irrigation network services where water impounding projects as suggested by Governor Pineda could be used as fishponds instantaneously.
The said seminar also covered the employment and job opportunities by PESO Manager Luningnging Vergara, which according to their statistics, a total of 797,329 or 92% as of 2013 fall under employment rate and a total of 69,332 or 8% fall under unemployment rate and 61,533 or 7% were underemployed.
Putting job creation at the heart of its economic agenda is one of the strategic thrusts of Governor Pineda, and providing jobs set to be the permanent solution.
Meanwhile, Vergara cited in demand jobs in the agricultural industries, general services, transportation, health, hotel and restaurant, banking and finance, real estate, manufacturing and construction.
Also, Ms. Elizabeth Baybayan discussed the updates on Social Services concerning child abuse prevention and intervention network making the province a child friendly haven.
Waste Management Officer Jayson Sambat discussed the environment protection and waste management and stressed on proper segregation.
While, Provincial Assessor, Engr. Romeo Dizon discussed the revision of real property tax and updates on tax mapping.
Delegates of the seminar were barangay captains of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd district, joined by the heads of the Provincial Capitol.
