GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte- The departments of labor and employment, agriculture and science and technology and trade and industry have partnered to help victims of the supertyphoon Yolanda.
The convergence of these government offices is in line with the policy of President Aquino to ensure a fast and better delivery of services to the people, said Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Aside from the DOLE, the Departments of Agriculture, Science and Technology and Trade and Industry, the Visayas State University is also part of the convergence.
Sarcauga explained that the convergence program was crafted by the national government to help address the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in all Yolanda- affected areas.
“If you try to take a look at it, one of the functions of the DOLE is to provide livelihood assistance to both the formal and informal sector. However the livelihood projects of these sectors can be more sustainable if it is prepared in such a way that it becomes viable and feasible” the DOLE director said.
Sarcauga believed that the livelihood projects needs the interventions for them to be sustained.
The convergence is focused in three important things- first, it should be technology driven; second, it should be resource based and third, it should be sustainable.
Under the scheme, the DOST would provide the needed technology with the DOLE providing the needed funding and tools, among others.
The DA would help identify the market and raw materials, Sarcauga said. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)
