City earmarks P2.5M for short-term jobs

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The Iloilo City Government has allocated a P2.5 million poverty alleviation fund to ease people's lives during this lean months or locally known as “tigkiliwi.”

The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the P2.5 million poverty alleviation fund during its regular session last Wednesday. It was part of the supplemental budget 1 amounting to P27, 350,670.

The budget will be allocated for the creation of temporary jobs for the poorest of the poor, the establishment of rolling stores, and to subsidize the farming needs in portions of the city still considered as agricultural land.

Mayor Jerry Treñas, the brainchild for the allocation of the P2.5 poverty alleviation fund said there is really a need to help the needs of the people particularly those who are considered poorest of the poor.

The mayor, a businessman himself believe that we are experiencing a bad economy, thus there is a must to help the people. With the poverty alleviation fund, it could help the people even for only two months.

Treñas said out of the P2.5 million, the P2 million would be allocated for the creation of jobs and the remaining P500, 000 for the rolling stores and subsidy for farmers. The creation of jobs is patterned after President Arroyor's program Kalsada Natin Alagaan Natin.The job will center on the maintenance and cleanliness of the roads along the barangay. They will be hired in a day to day basis.

In the rolling store aspect, the city government will purchase rice from the National Food Authority (NFA), canned goods and other basic commodities. It will be sold at cost to the people.

The farmer will be subsidized because the cost of the fertilizer also increased. The increase was attributed to the rising cost of the fuel. “Its time for us to help the farmers,” said Treñas.

The City Planning Office will draft a scheme on who can avail of the temporary employment and low price of commodities. The City Social Welfare Development Office's help is also tapped to make sure those considered as poorest of the poor can avail of the program.