SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), along with the San Jose local government unit, has released R469,000 worth of livelihood starter kits for beneficiaries here. Some 50 beneficiaries availed of the livelihood assistance. DOLE released R375,000 for tools for each beneficiary while the remaining R94,000 served as counterpart provided by either the beneficiary or the San Jose LGU. All beneficiaries are holders of a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda)-accredited National Certificate (NC), a national standard assessment issued to individuals with demonstrable competence in a field or course of specialization.
FARMERS’ PALAY
KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — The National Food Authority (NFA) here is fully prepared to buy Aklan farmers’ palay produce this harvest season. For this harvest season, NFA has put up satellite palay-buying stations located in harvest-rich towns like Ibajay, Makato, and Lezo, NFA-Aklan Provincial Manager Procopio B. Trabajo II said. At present, private traders buy palay from farmers at low prices while NFA buys a kilo of dry, clean palay for R17. Trabajo said the NFA’s buying price could reach as much as R17.70 per kilo when sellers are cooperatives. “We can also buy a maximum of 200 bags of palay from walk-in farmers even if they have no farmers’ passbook,” Trabajo said.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology in Negros Oriental recently turned over a R850,000 check to fund technology upgrading equipment for Sans Rival Food Corporation, producers of delicious sans rival and silvana butter-filled pastries. The confectionery firm is the leading, pioneering cake and pastry enterprise in Dumaguete City. DOST Assistant Provincial Director Roslyn Tambago said the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (Setup) innovation system support fund provided Sans Rival with such equipment as compact tabletop depositor, product cylinder, handheld nozzle and a handheld flocker to upgrade and enhance fast and efficient production of its tasty products.
SCHOLARSHIPS BRIEFING
GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte (PIA) — A seminar-briefing on the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Scholarship Project (JDS) for the Visayas will be conducted on Sept. 21, at 9 a.m. at the NEDA-8 office by the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICC), along with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). NEDA Region 8 Director, Atty. Bonifacio Uy said human resource development officers of several government agencies are invited to the briefing. Guidelines and procedures for application to the two-year JDS masteral degree program in various fields of study in leading Japan universities will be discussed.
EXIT CONFERENCE
CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) — An exit conference was conducted in Brgy. Nenita, Mondragon, Northern Samar, a recipient of a R30-million funding under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (Pamana) road project. The provincial government, represented by PPPDO Romeo Cardenas and the Provincial Engineering Office, explained to constituents the overview of the activity, project updates and planned turnover on September 19. Pamana Area Manager Emy Bonifacio asked barangay officials and residents to rate the contractor’s work as, he said, “any issue should be settled before the turn over.”