LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – More entrepreneurial opportunities are coming for Pangasinenses as the Livelihood (Kabuhayan) Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to take off in the province.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has authorized via provincial resolution, Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III to ink a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DOLE to bring the program in the province in a regular session recently at the SP Session Hall, Capitol Building here.
Co-authors of the measure provincial Board Members Generoso Tulagan, Jr. and Noel Bince said that implementation of the program would enable unemployed poor, seasonal and low-wage worker to make both ends meet by helping them start their own or collective enterprises.
“One of the Provincial Government’s Priority Programs under the present administration is the provision of sustainable jobs,” they jointly wrote.
Invited to the session, Provincial Employment Services Office manager Alex Ferrer said that the first offering of the program in the province would be the Bigasang Bayani Project for the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) families.
Ferrer bared that the project would cater discounted price on rice purchases for registered OFW families to the Pangasinan OFW Family Federation, Incorporated.
For the project funding, 80 percent will be shouldered by DOLE while the provincial government will cover a counterpart fund of at least 20 percent.
To sign the MOA with Gov. Espino is DOLE-Region 1 Director Henry John Jalbuena.
The Bigasang Bayani project is under the Bantay Barangay, Tulong Hanapbuhay platform of PESO.
To help more budding entrepreneurs in the province flourish, plans of mounting more Matuto sa Eksperto business-management skills enhancement seminar.
By Dexter A. See