If health is wealth, employment is development
Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda believes that helping people entails the responsibility to guide them in developing fortitude in life and being self-reliant thus, her administration is not only focused on the achievement of a healthy province but also in creating employment opportunities to the Kapampangans.
From 2010 up to 2012, the Province of Pampanga bagged the Best Public Employment Services Office in Central Luzon and National for Provincial Category making the province best in public employment service for three consecutive years or Hall of Fame Awardee in the recently concluded 12th PESO Congress held in Baguio City.
This PESO achievement paved the way to naming Gov. Pineda, the Most Outstanding Governor in employment service and Luningning Vergara head of provincial PESO, the Best Peso Manager.
Vergara said maintaining the status of being on top for three years is a challenge for her and the governor because all provinces are very aggressive to grab the title but the province did not rest on its laurels.
She commended Nanay Gob for being supportive of the programs proposed by PESO and the Department of Labor and Employment for its assistance.
“All the glory we received in public employment is because of the unwavering support of Nanay (Gov.Pineda). She is very active when it comes to planning, consultation and generous in providing funds for the programs and projects as she knows well that this will benefit the greater number of Kapampangans,” added Vergara.
Among the factors that contributed in achieving the hall of fame award are skills registry system that serves as the data bank of all workers in the province; career and employment coaching; referrals for local employment; job assistance for overseas employment; livelihood training; skills enhancement for self employment; cultural arts for the indigenous people, special program for the employment of students (SPES), regular jobs fair; negosyo sa kariton and activation of junk shop industry.
“Most of our programs are duplicated in other provinces but we have the best practice and it is effective in the province,” Vergara stated.
Simultaneously, the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO) bagged the much coveted award for livelihood and employment generation the,”Most Outstanding LGU Cooperative Development Office, received by its head, Mamerto “Bert” Gatus during the 11th Cooperative Summit.
The accomplishments of the Negosyo king Panyulung program of Gov. Pineda got the attention of Cooperative and Development Authorityn (CDA) due to the released of P34, 310, 000 loan for the 4, 761 direct beneficiaries and 23, 805 indirect beneficiaries.
“The almost 34.4 M loan assisted by the provincial government for more than two years surpassed the combined amount released for the past years before the governor’s assumption to office,” declared Gatus.
Gatus added that the provision of capital assistance to beneficiaries is not dole-out in form as the beneficiaries are required to pay back the loaned amount. He disclosed that of the almost P34.4-million, more than P29 Million had been paid.
Under the Pineda Administration, the province has a total of 297 cooperatives whose total members are 42, 645 and 878 employees.
Luning Vergara and Bert Gatus both cited Gov. Pineda for her tangible support and firmness in uplifting the lives of the poor and in the fight against unemployment and poverty.
The highlights of the accomplishments of Nanay Gob may not always be seen in print or broadcast but they are on-record in every department of the provincial government and most important they are being felt by the greater number of Kapampangans.
Most of her programs made their way up silently, but they are recognized by different awarding giving bodies and touched the lives of thousand of Kapampangans.
By Jenna V. Lumbang, PIO Pampanga
