Livelihood programs continuing to provide income, battle pandemic
The
Duterte government continues to carry out programs that provide people with
source of income, prop up the economy and at the same time produce products
helpful to the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the
Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the
people at the MalacaΓ±ang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in MalacaΓ±ang Park, Manila on
March 24, 2021. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
In
his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, Trade Secretary Ramon
Lopez said the trade department is working to produce 47 million masks for the
poor based on the President’s instruction.
Some
13 million masks were produced and the government has so far delivered more than
12 million masks to poor communities, Lopez said.
Among
the participating agencies include the Inter-Agency Task Force for the
Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Office of the President,
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH), Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM).
Aside
from producing non-medical masks, the government has spearheaded the production
of medical-grade, internationally certified face coverings as well as personal
protective equipment (PPE).
The
country has been producing 2.4 million pieces of N95 masks per month and 56
million pieces each month of N88 masks.
“’Yung
coveralls, ‘yong pinapatong sa ating katawan, 3.2 million pieces per month ang
capacity, dati zero. At iba pa pong mga ano diyan: ventilators dati zero,
ngayon 6,000 units per month; iyong meltblown or filter for face mask, ito
‘yong nasa loob ng face mask, 20 tons per month, dati po zero capacity,” Lopez
said.
Around
six local companies are also in talks with the Board of Investments (BOI) for
local vaccine manufacturing, Lopez said, noting the initiative will be helpful
to the country’s drive for COVID-19 vaccine self-sufficiency.
“So
ang amin lang pong request dito, siyempre ito po ay nagke-create ng local jobs
and local manufacturing, pera ng bayan, sana para sa trabaho sa bayan. So we
have to buy local. Ito po ‘yong ating pinu-push kasi ‘pag nag-buy local, madali
hong makaka-recover ang ating ekonomiya kasi mare-restimulate ang economy,” the
trade chief said.
And
even during the pandemic, the government continues to give livelihood kits,
entrepreneurship seminars, mentoring clinic, and various livelihood
opportunities nationwide, Lopez reported.
So
far, 56,281 micro- small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) received government
assistance and 26,240 individuals were given livelihood kits.
Livelihood
programs amidst the pandemic are also ongoing, Lopez said noting the DTI has
already visited Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to assist communities with the help
of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Department of Agriculture, National
Housing Authority, DTI and DSWD.
Former
rebels also received assistance, according to Lopez. “Iyong sa project po natin
sa NTF-ELCAC. Ito po ‘yong mga natutulungan, nabibigyan ng pangkabuhayan
package. Nationwide, mga 829 former rebels po ang naabot natin dito.”
Returning
OFWs were also given opportunities through different livelihood programs, he
said, noting the government has recorded total approved loans of P3 billion,
which benefited 24,581 individuals. PND
