Livelihood project for drug affected brgys sought

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Mayor Jerry Treñas will meet with Iloilo City Police Director Sr. Supt. Norlito Bautista to discuss the latter's proposal to come up with a livelihood program for drug affected barangays.

In the recent City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) meeting, Bautista recommended before the body to help the drug affected barangays by giving them livelihood project. Poverty is one of the factors that contributed to the growing number of drug pushers in the city. This is one of the city's police action plans to combat the illegal drug problems in the city.

Treñas said he would coordinate with Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on the requirements needed for the different barangays for them to learn technical skills from the agency.

Once the residents are already equipped with skills, they can start their own small business, he said.

He added that he would also ask the opinion of the City Welfare and Development Office on the matter. The city has its own anti-poverty alleviation group which studies and conceptualized poverty alleviation program. One of their concepts is the implementation of the Barangay Emergency Employment Program.

Barangay Emergency Employment Program is a project of the city government that gives employment to the residents of different barangays. Residents are employed as temporary street sweepers. They maintained cleanliness along the road. Each family living along the poverty line is allowed to work as street sweeper.

The mayor added that they are also implementing the supplemental feeding in the city's 180 barangays. This project is implemented under the city's day care programs. It was designed to help the malnutrition problem.

Apart from these poverty alleviation programs, the city is also into the rice program. The city buys rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) and sold to the different barangays at lower cost.