BATANGAS CITY – The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) on Monday called on local social welfare offices – and their local indigent stakeholders – to focus more on livelihood projects that address long-term climate change adaptation and mitigation undertakings than the usual and short-lived street-sweeping, cleaning of roads, among other menial work.
Jocelyn Montalbo, Batangas PSWDO department head, said that their livelihood projects and cash-for-work program for the indigent sector will now focus on environmental concerns and climate-change issues, which would not only benefit the vulnerable poor sectors but also address the local communities’ problems on the environment.
Montalbo said that every city and town in the province will embark on cash-for-work and livelihood schemes that cover the poor sectors, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, and illegal drug surrenderers and hard drug “reformists.”
She said that the long-term projects include tending the communal/community gardening, fleet farming, rehabilitation of mangrove plantation, and tree planting or reforestation.
The shift in focus to the environment stemmed from the PSWDO-hosted seminar last May 24, which was themed “Risk Resiliency Program through Cash-for-Work Project for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation” at the Batangas Capitol Auditorium here.
Under this scheme, each local government unit will select around 305 to 310 workers from each barangay who are recipients of the cash-for-work or livelihood undertaking.
She said that the beneficiaries will undertake the 10-day work, where each worker will earn around PHP 284 per day, or a total of PHP 2,840 for 10 days.
She also thanked the 47 representatives from the various cities and towns for participating in the seminar so they can start to implement the new shift in the livelihood and cash-for-work program.
Participating city and municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (SWDOs) came from Lipa City, Batangas City, Tanauan City and the towns of Laurel, Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Mataas na Kahoy, Mabini, Talisay, Lemery, Rosario, Taal, Padre Garcia, Malvar, San Nicolas, Calatagan, Ibaan, and Balayan.
The PSWDO project is pursuant to Republic Act 9729, or the “Climate Change Act of 2009,” which emphasizes environmental protection and conservation and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call in his State of the National Address 2017 to underscore in building disaster-resilient communities. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
