Albay to enlist jobless graduates as climate change workers

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 19 (PIA) -- Albay is hiring a "veritable army" of still jobless graduates to teach communities, especially in remote villages, the local and national programs and frameworks of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Manuel C. Rangasa, executive director of the Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) of Albay, said the office is considering the employment program for jobless graduates with the backing from funding agencies such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Agencia Espanola de Cooperaccion Internacional Para El Desarrollo (AECID), provincial government of Albay and other agencies.

“The idea already came up during the First Philippine Councilors Summit on Climate Change here over the week end,” Rangasa said.

Setting an example, Albay has established financing for disaster-risk management systems, built permanent relocation sites, and trained residents to follow evacuation protocol.

Rangasa said tapping jobless college graduates for an information drive in exchange for subsidy or minimum salaries could help local governments reach remotest villages for their programs.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda meanwhile said information is vital to the poor, who are “more sensitive to the [impacts] of climate change.”

“Unlike the rich and the middle class, the poor are most susceptible to climate change related disasters and emergencies yet they are also the quickest to adapt. They are not tied to material wealth like their rich counterparts so if a calamity displaces them, they can move on quickly,” Salceda said.

Albay tops the list of 20 provinces which are vulnerable to disasters brought by climate change. (MALoterte, PIA V)

KBP Sorsogon starts 3-day Media Olympicsby Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Aug 19 (PIA)-- Almost 200 members of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), Sorsogon Chapter, attended the thanksgiving mass, that signalled the start of a three-day activity for the 2nd Media Olympics.

Andy Espinar, KBP president said that this second Media Olympics aims to unify people working in media especially those in broadcast and to be more responsive in making broadcast a service-focused endeavor.

"Anchored on the theme 'Quality Camaraderie,' KBP Sorsogon hopes to achieve a more meaningful unified action in serving the province of Sorsogon and promoting not only peace but to assist government through responsible broadcasting," Espinar explained.

Meanwhile, Fr. Rene F. Mabute said in his homily that members of media should always remember that while it is their responsibility to uphold the truth, it is also their responsibility to create a more focused delivery of messages anchored on God's teachings.

The Media Olympics will give awards to special programs, to anchors, broadcasters, and other personalities who have significant roles in media and society.

"We would like for the KBP Sorsogon Chapter to grow in terms of maturity and level of participation in the community as these awards will also inspire people working in broadcast to strive more in the name of public service," Espinar explained in his message during the opening program.

"The KBP Sorsogon Chapter has been a very significant partner in the development of the city and the province as well.The assistance they provided for the development of our communities is truly commendable," Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda said. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)