ILOILO City – The livelihood programs and projects extended to Iloilo City and province through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) are one way of making the Ilonggos feel the “package of love” of President Rodrigo Duterte.
This was stressed by the Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade as he, with Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III, led the distribution of another batch of livelihood assistance and programs to cushion the impact of the pandemic on the Ilonggoss. These were received by Mayor Jerry Treñas, Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda and IloilGov. Arthur Defensor Jr. on behalf of the Ilonggo beneficiaries.
Also present to receive the assistance were Cong. Michael Gorriceta (2nd District, Iloilo), Cong. Janette Garin (1st District, Iloilo), and Mayor Trixie Fernandez (San Enrique, Iloilo and League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Iloilo president), Mayor Jon Aying (Sara, Iloilo), Mayor Rema Somo (Santa Barbara, ILoilo), Mayor James Esmeralda (Igbaras, Iloilo), Mayor Macario Napula (Miag-ao, Iloilo), Mayor Siegfredo Betita (Carles, Iloilo), Mayor Marina Gorriceta (San Miguel, Iloilo), and Mayor Laurence Gorriceta (Pavia, Iloilo). It was witnessed by some 1,500 beneficiaries under TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers), GIP (Government Internship Program) and other recipients of employment and transportation programs.
Bello said, “Alam n’yo po kaya kami nandito ni Secretary Tugade, isa lang ang aming pakay, ang iparating sa inyong mga kababayan namin sa Region 6 ang ayuda ng gobyerno ni Presidente Duterte. Sabi ni Presidente, pera niyo ‘yan kaya basta meron ay ipamigay sa inyo.”
Tugade and Bello emphasized the efforts made by Congresswoman Baronda to have these various programs and projects accessed and received by the Ilonggos.
“Makulit ‘yan si Cong. Jam-jam. Kaya kami nandito,” Tugade lightly said, underscoring how the lawmaker made representation for DOTr and DOLE to bring more programs to this regional center.
Mayor Treñas, for his part, is thankful to Tugade and Bello for their love and concern for the Ilonggos.
“We witness these Ilonggo beneficiaries to be given a chance to start over again and to see hope amidst these trying times. All these will not be possible without the love and concern of Secretary Bello and Secretary Tugade,” said Treñas.
Baronda expressed gratitude for the assistance these two agencies extended particularly during the pandemic.
“DOTr looked for ways to have PPEs (personal protective equipment) and specimens for RT-PCR test shipped since we didn’t have a testing center here at that time. It helped us organize sweeper flights for our stranded Ilonggos and to repatriate overseas Filipino workers. DOTr dispatched Philippine Coast Guard to transport locally stranded individuals and supplies,” she enumerated how the agency extended help.
Baronda also credited DOLE for helping the Ilonggos through its various programs like TUPAD, GIP and the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) worth some P200 million.
Governor Defensor, meanwhile, specifically thanked Tugade for the airport and port projects of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in the province.
“Let me extend the thanks of the people of Iloilo. Salamat sa mga oras na ibinibigay ninyo at sa pag-asikaso sa mga ports sa Iloilo. Salamat sa ating pagtutulungan at trabaho kasama ang CAAP at PPA. Pasalamatan din natin si President Rodrigo Duterte sa mga proyekto na dumaan sa mga opisina nina Secretary Tugade at Secretary Bello,” said Defensor.
Tugade told the hundreds of audience including the beneficiaries of TUPAD that, “Naniniwala ako na kung anuman ang Iloilo ngayon, konti lang ‘yan sa kanyang mararating sa kinabukasan. Lalaki at lalago ang pamahalaang Iloilo. Kaya nga ‘ho ang pamahalaang Duterte ay nandidito ngayon upang sa kaniyang modest na paraan ay makatulong sa paglaki at paglago ng Iloilo.”
The DOTr distributed 25 electric tricyles or e-trikes to the city government ng Iloilo after Tugade inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Iloilo City’s Congresswoman and Mayor Treñas.
“Layon ng turnover na ito na mas maraming tao ang makabiyahe at makapunta sa kanilang trabaho, hindi lamang sa pamamagitan ng mga pampublikong transportasyon. Makatutulong din ito sa pagtitiyak ng kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga road users – ang mga siklista at riders, para sa kanilang biyahe at hanapbuhay,” said Tugade.
He added: “Maganda ang pagkakumpuni, maganda ang pagkaayos. Ito ‘ho ay magagamit ninyo sa pagnenegosyo. Ito ay isang handog ng pagmamahal ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon sa siyudad ng Iloilo, nang sa ganoon makatulong kami sa kagustuhan ng mga taong maghanap-buhay at umangat ang kanilang buhay.”
Also, Iloilo will also be the first local government unit outside the National Capital Region to have a cashless bus payment system. The cashless bus will have routes which include the Iloilo-Caticlan, Roxas and Kalibo area.
Meanwhile, 38 beneficiaries received bicycles under the Bikecination Livelihood Projects and free cellphone loads while 75 individuals benefited from “Trisikad” Project of the DOLE.
Moreover, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) distributed checks for 40 beneficiaries under “Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program,” Education for Development Scholarship Program and 17 beneficiaries under “TABANG OFW” program.
After the distribution of various livelihood programs, Tugade and Bello proceeded to inaugurate the new P50-million Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) District Western Visayas Headquarters.
The Transportation Secretary stressed that this new regional headquarters aims to strengthen and support the workforce of the PCG in Region 6 as they carry out their mission of safeguarding life and property, protecting the marine environment, and conducting humanitarian missions and disaster response and management.
Joining the turnover program were Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and City Councilors Love Baronda, Ely Estante, Irene Ong, Rudolph Ganzon, Alan Zaldivar, Frances Parcon and Rommel Duron. Raisa Treñas of Uswag Ilonggo and Dr. Urminico Baronda Jr. joined them as well as Office of the Civil Defense regional director Jose Roberto Nuñez.
Also present were DOLE Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, Undersecretary Benjo Santos Benavidez, Director Venus Apas, OWWA administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Bernard Olalia, Director Karen Trayvilla, and Director Rolly Francia.
DOLE regional director Sixtro Rodriguez, OWWA regional head Rizza Moldes, and former DOLE Regional Director Cyril Ticao attended the event.
DOTr Undersecretary Giovanni Lopez, Undersecretary Steve Pastor, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III, CAAP director general Jim Sydiongco, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Santiago joined the event with Land Transportation Office regional director Eric Lenard Tabaldo, and LTFRB regional director Richard Osmeña./PN
