Aquino administration earmarks P278M for Apayao
irrigation, agricultural projects
As part of the Aquino administration’s thrust to
ensure food sufficiency in the country, the Department of Agriculture earmarked
P278 million for irrigation and agricultural projects in Apayao, Malacanang
reported on Saturday.
“Ang goal ng proyektong ito ay para ma-maintain
ng probinsya ‘yung kanilang position as a surplus rice producer and para
ma-cultivate at ma-develop natin ‘yung potential para makapag-export ng fancy
aromatic rice,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio
interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Aside from producing more rice, Valte said the
Department of Agriculture is aggressively initiating irrigation and
agricultural projects in the province to make it a major producer of corn,
coffee, vegetables, fruits and other high value crops.
Just recently, the DA have announced that there
are enough stocks of palay, corn and vegetable seeds that could be distributed
to farmers throughout the country in the event of a calamity during the rainy
season.
The seeds are now in their regional offices
awaiting distribution to those who may need them in the next few months,
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said as he urged the farmers to insure
their crops with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) so that they
could recover whatever they lost due to calamities.
The DA is hopeful that by 2013, the country
could export rice as planned under its rice sufficiency program. (as/1:14pm)
Aquino declares June 20 a non-working day for
the City of Dagupan in Pangasinan
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 20, which falls on a Wednesday as a special (non-working day) in the city
of Dagupan in the province of Pangasinan in celebration of its 65th Charter
Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 402 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 11 to give the people of Dagupan the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 20, 1947, two years after the
liberation, Dagupan became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 170, a law
known as the City Charter of Dagupan. (js)
Palace: Govt addressing unemployment, jobs
mismatch
The government continues to work to create more
jobs to the people as well as to ensure that those looking for jobs find the
work appropriate to them, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on
Saturday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte was asked by reporters
how the government addresses underemployment aside from generating the
availability of more jobs.
Valte said that apart from unemployment the
Aquino administration is also looking at addressing underemployment.
“Ang gusto natin hindi lang ‘yung may trabaho...
kailangan akma ang trabaho sa kakayahan at kung ano ang dapat na kinikita.
Pinag-aaralan ng DOLE ‘yung mga job mismatch para kung saan mas pwedeng ilagay
for the proper set of skills,” Valte said adding that it is ongoing at the DOLE
and the TESDA to avoid job mismatches in the future.
These initiatives are in addition to the
continuing offer of TESDA and other agencies that provide training for Filipino
workers who would wish to upgrade their skills, Valte said.
The President keeps talking about the issue and
he has tasked these agencies to work together and share their data, the Palace
spokesperson said.
As students enter college and universities, the
government advices them about the viable courses and those that have ample job
opportunities by the time that they graduate, Valte said.
Reporters also asked Valte why there’s
underemployment despite the improving economy. Valte said several factors
contribute to underemployment.
This is true with the country’s professionals,
she said, explaining that some of them are not actually practicing their real
professions.
“For example, you have professionals who are in
fields that require licensing, ang mga inhinyero natin, mga lawyers, mga
nurses... merong mga cases na kahit merong professional degree they choose to
get employment na hindi nagagamit ang kanilang mga degree,” she explained.
The first step in addressing the problem is to
provide the people with more jobs that will fit their skills and
qualifications, she said.
If there are enough jobs, those who are
underemployed will have the opportunity to move up in the career ladder and
find jobs that are suited to their capability and skills, she said. (as/1:57pm)
