DOLE, UNEP links for YES Program

By Analiza S. Macatangay

IRIGA City, Jan 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) today with the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) for the full implementation of its Youth Enterprising Support or YES Program to reduce unemployment problem among the youth.

The measure also communes with the DOLE’s Working Youth Center program which endeavors to create more livelihood opportunities for the youth in consonance with its commitment to the Philippine Youth Development and Employment Agenda.

DOLE Bicol regional director Nathaniel Lacambra personally handed the Certificate of Accreditation to Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, UNEP president, in recognition of its capacity as co-partner to the different livelihood components of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Programs (DILP).

Lacambra said that he will aptly call the covenant as a” partnership of trust” since the DOLE will be entrusting a government fund to a private entity.

“We share the benefit of the government to able and willing partners who have showed their interest to partake of the government’s services. This is also the essence of the Public-Private Partnership that our present government is pursuing. This is a challenge for our students to pursue, persevere and insist in succeeding so that the government’s effort will not be wasted,” Lacambra said.

Moraleda welcomed the partnership with the excitement of giving another opportunity to UNEP students to explore other financial endeavors through the said partnership.

“UNEP has been exploring partnership with various government entities in the past. We have the office of the National Statistics Office (NSO) here inside the campus, partnership with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) , and DOLE has been a long time partner in some of the orientations that we are conducting inside the university. YES program, in addition is a welcome development since this will empower our students to boost their entrepreneurial skills and be their own managers in the future,” Moraleda said in an interview.

DOLE has approved the student’s business plans on Banana Chips enterprise, Choco Cup Phoria, Street Food vending, Emerald Cupcake Collection and HealhTea. These projects are worth P500,000.00. An equity of P100,000.00 will be coming from UNEP as its counterpart. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)


News Feature: Go Green Daet 2013, an environmental protection advocacy

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Jan 12 (PIA) –- Daet will feature its new environmental protection advocacy dubbed Go Green Daet (G2D). This is part of the local government's campaign under its slogan Daet On The Go launched last January 6.

Mayor Tito Sarte-Sarion said after promoting Daet via Visit Daet (V2D) 2012, the G2D will support and sustain the reason why the Balikbayans and tourists will go back to Daet more often.

The G2D has a 13 points agenda or plan of action for the protection of the environment which is also in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure environmental sustainability among the eight targets.

The first agenda is the 365 days tree planting activities wherein they will establish a municipal seedbank for tree planting; propagation of fruit bearing seedlings, bamboo and other ornamental trees in 25 barangays; and tree planting along river banks and public lands targetting 4,000-6,000 seedlings.

The Green Bridage as 2nd agenda will be having an education campaign on RA 9003 or ecological solid waste management program; strengthening of the 4H club, Rural Improvement Club (RIC) and environmental related non government organizations; and the celebration of the Green Brigade Achievement Day on November.

“Gulayan sa barangay at paaralan”, the 3rd agenda will be having a contest from February to July the “Magtanim upang hindi magutom”, a distribution of seed capital will be this month of January. Also included is the Brigada Eskuwela before and after class and the celebration of Nutrition Month.

The LGU will also adopt the environmental code at the barangay and municipal level as their 4th agenda together with the 5th agenda which is the mangrove plantation and coastal management with rehabilitation of 30 hectares mangrove in 5 coastal barangays, ecological tour, establishment of marine protected area and fish sanctuary, regular beach cleaning and sanctuary month.

An incentive program for environmental initiative as 6th agenda will conduct Search and Award for the “Special Environmental Initiative” in barangay level, school level, business level, NGO/private level.

They will also continue their clean and green program specially the monthly evaluation of clean and green activities and awarding of cleanest and greenest barangay as well as school landscaping and beautification as 7th agenda.

The Eco-House, a pilot project to serve as display area, training area and demo area as 8th agenda, a one week exhibit of recycled materials and selection and awarding of best recycled product will be conducted.

A pollution control and clean air-anti smoke belching as 9th agenda will have an strict implementation of smoking area in the office, no selling of cigarettes to minors, no smoking and oplan baklas of smoking promotional materials, its integration to health lesson, monitoring and banning of smoke belching vehicles and campaign against burning of rice straw and other garbages through the tri-media.

The other four remaining agenda include the anti-illegal logging advocacy, climate change adaptation, healthy lifestyle campaign and pro-Daet River Day campaign.

The said 13 points plan of action was an offshoot of the planning activity held December 18-20 last year by the different departments of the LGU-Daet.

The G2D program will be spearheaded by the LGU through the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR) as well as other concerned national government agencies.

Earlier in December 20 last year, a Resolution No. 250-2012 has been passed to support the G2D entitled “Resolution taking cognizance of the implementation of Go Green Daet program in the municipality of Daet, province of Camarines Norte by year 2013”.

The resolution states that solid waste became the most visible environmental problem of many local government units, including Daet and recognizing the need to address the environmental and social menace that is why the LGU-Daet prioritized proper solid waste management and environmental protection advocacy.

The G2D will likewise support economic growth in the municipality, the presence of clean and green community with a developing economy is one of the significant reasons for the visitors and balikbayans to come to Daet. (RBM/PIA Camarines Norte). -