MOU signed to benefit displaced timber workers
in Butuan City
BUTUAN CTIY, Aug 27 (PIA) -- A memorandum of
understanding (MOU) was signed between the local government unit of Butuan and
different line agencies that provide livelihood and other forms of assistance
to the families of displaced workers in the wood industry held at the Almont
Hotel’s Inland Resort here.
The line agencies include the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment,
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry,
Department of the Interior and Local Government, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (Tesda), and National Anti-Poverty Commission.
The convergence, dubbed "Oplan Logging:
Likas, Lunas, Lakas" was initiated by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M.
Amante Jr., following the intensified implementation of Executive Order 23.
In his message, Amante said that the MOU was a
product of a series of consultation meetings with regional directors of the concerned
agencies. He also revealed that Budget Secretary Butch Abad has committed to
fund the scholarship of 2,000 students from the affected families.
Amante added that another 500 trainees will be
funded under Tesda. The actual number of affected families will be known on
September 15, when the ongoing tagging will be completed. (RER/PIO-Butuan
City/PIA-Caraga)
