DMDP commended for barangay employment program

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has recognized and commended the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP) for its successful pilot livelihood program in Barangay San Nicolas Proper.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa sponsored a resolution on the matter, which the Council approved.

Abellanosa said the unemployment rate in the country rose to great heights during the COVID-19 pandemic due to various mobility and medical restrictions that resulted to the world economic crisis.

He said that at present, there has been a steady drop of the unemployment rate because of the easing of mobility restrictions and the bouncing back of the country to economic growth.

However, the councilor said there are homeless individuals in the city who have not experienced any financial improvement or stability since the pandemic because of lack employment opportunities.

The DMDP is a city government office that provides better opportunities to the residents through skills training.

Last July, the Council urged the city government to extend assistance to the Barangay Council of San Nicolas Proper through the DMDP in conducting skills training, education and economic strengthening in its Pilot Livelihood Program to the homeless families and individuals being housed and taken cared of in the barangay.

Abellanosa said earlier that the Barangay Council of San Nicolas Proper has seen and realized the need to give support and aid to the homeless individuals and families through the program as they cannot rely solely on the barangay forever for their subsistence. Eventually, they will become capable of providing for themselves and their needs.

With this, the department conducted a livelihood training program on August 22 wherein 40 homeless individuals were trained in haircutting, mask holder making, eco-bag making, and cooking. They also provided them with toolkits that they could use for their trade.

“There is a need for the Cebu City Government to recognize and commend the efforts of the DMDP in training and providing livelihood opportunities to these homeless individuals and ensuring that no one gets left behind in the path to economic recovery,” Abellanosa said.

Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160 grants every local government unit the power and authority to promote the general welfare within their respective territorial jurisdiction by promoting full employment among their residents, among others. — JMO (FREEMAN)