by Cielito M. Reganit, Philippine News Agency | Thursday, 23 June 2016
The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), through the implementation of its I-BUILD or infrastructure development sub-projects, has created at least 4,483 jobs in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol Regions, the program’s Project Support Office (PSO) reported Thursday.
According to the Luzon B or South Luzon PSO, of the said figure, 1,750 are technical or specialized work, while 2,733 are unskilled work.
The Bicol Region has the highest number of individuals employed at about 2,149 while CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) Regions employed about 1,529 and 805 individuals, respectively.
Ranging from the highly skilled engineers, masons, heavy equipment operators, welders, steelmen and carpenters, as well as unskilled workers such as laborers and helpers, the project has been steadily absorbing workforce in the area since 2014.
Meanwhile, the I-REAP or enterprise development component seeks to employ another 688 individuals this year from the CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol Regions.
PRDP interim national project director Arnel de Mesa said they expect PRDP’s job generation to continue in 2016 and beyond.
“Job creation would not only continue in in our Luzon B cluster, but in other provinces of the country as well,” he said.
The PRDP has four project clusters: Luzon A or the North Luzon Cluster, which comprises the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera Regions; Luzon B, which comprises the CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol Regions; Visayas; and Mindanao.
“Nationwide, the PRDP has so far generated employment to at least 22,712 individuals, based on the latest data available as of June this year,” De Mesa said.
He added that at this stage of PRDP implementation, temporary employment opportunities are only some of the Project’s emerging benefits.
“The long-term, sustainable and inclusive employment and livelihood opportunities for the beneficiaries would be generated by the sub-projects being set-up across the country,” he said.
In the meantime, the Project has also provided capacity-building opportunities for stakeholders on planning, management and monitoring, among others.
“They can use the knowledge and skills gained from these activities even in non-PRDP endeavors, giving them more platforms to economically – as well as to politically – empower themselves,” de Mesa said.
The PRDP, a six-year World Bank-assisted project implemented by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with local government units, aims to establish an inclusive, market-oriented and climate-resilient agri-fishery sector. (PNA)
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