Business, employment project to find roots in barangay level

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

Relative to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 10-point agenda on the creation of jobs through small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) development, a new program “aims to shift the paradigm of barangay officials from their political roles to economics”.

The Gateway East Inc. in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-6) will conduct a forum on Barangay Livelihood Initiatives and Entrepreneurial Ventures (L.I.V.E.) program on April 13-15 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iznart Street, Iloilo City.

Some 4,000 barangay, city and municipal personnel involved in livelihood, cooperatives and SMEs improvement are invited to participate in the three-day forum that will focus on “Harnessing the Barangay in Creating New Ideas and New Jobs”.

Gateway East Inc. managing director Cesar D. Cueto noted that Barangay L.I.V.E. has been successfully held in Regions 1, 2, 4-A. 4-B, 5, 7, 9, NCR, CAR, 11 and 12. He added that they are expecting a 20 percent accomplishment for target barangays to come up with livelihood projects, from among the 4,050 villages in Western Visayas .

“Barangay L.I.V.E. implements the goals of RA 9178 which promotes the creation of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) to push countryside development,” Cueto stressed.

“It also puts into action the Executive Order 157 that mandates the formation of a network of barangay-based economic projects and to encourage active participation of barangay members in poverty alleviation,” he added.

Cueto pointed out the discussion would create awareness to the community as well as an efficient network of service provider for SMEs as the participants formulate plans and identify prospective livelihood project in the area.

“We want to reach out to the grassroots,” Cueto cited adding that Gateway East Inc. as a private sector has proposed to advocate that the program is sustained. He added the 20 percent target would “create an impact” on economic activity at barangay level.

Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-6) has urged the local chief executives to encourage barangay captains and city and municipal treasurers involved in the implementation of BMBE to take part in the program.