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→‎GEM-USAID turns over trading facility to Malapatan, Sarangani

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-==GEM-USAID turns over trading facility to Malapatan, Sarangani==
+==SPES-TWSP convergence program to cover 21 LGUs in Region 12==
-*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R12&article=1671335430552
+*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1611335668078
-*Friday, April 27, 2012
+*Sunday, April 29, 2012
-:by  (CTA/PIA General Santos City)
+:by  Danilo E. Doguiles
-GENERAL SANTOS CITY, April 27 (PIA) -- The United States Agency for International Development’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (USAID-GEM) turned over Thursday approximately P2-M worth of trading facility to the municipal government of Malapatan in Sarangani Province.
+KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, April 29 (PIA) -- A total of 21 municipalities in three provinces of Soccsksargen region will benefit from the initial implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Convergence Program on poverty alleviation.
-USAID Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman led the turn-over of the facility to Malapatan municipal government. This will be used by Balungis Women’s Association who specializes in weaving as prime beneficiary of the project.
+The program brings together DOLE’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) to provide training and employment opportunities to the marginalized sector of the society, especially the out-of-school youth (OSY).
-Aeschliman was assisted by Senator Loren Legarda, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of Mindanao Development Authority and Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez.
+Based on a list provided by the office of DOLE 12 Regional Director Chona Mantilla last Friday, the SPES-TWSP Convergence Program will cover 11 municipalities in North Cotabato, eight in Sultan Kudarat, and two in Sarangani.
-USAID also turned over six handlooms and other related weaving materials to the association.
+In North Cotabato, beneficiary OSYs should come from Aleosan, Midsayap, Tulunan, Alamada, Arakan, Banisilan, Kabacan, Libungan, Magpet, Matalam, and President Roxas.
-Aeschliman said USAID projects in Mindanao are designed to help accelerate economic growth in the conflict-affected areas of the region in support of the Philippine government’s peace and development initiatives.
+Interested and qualified OSYs in Kalamansig, Bagumbayan, Colombio, Esperanza, Isulan, Lambayong, Lebak, and Senator Ninoy Aquino municipalities of Sultan Kudarat may also avail of the training and employment program.
-The construction of the trading center stemmed from the municipal government of Malapatan and the women’s association asking the assistance of USAID because they “did not have an appropriate facility in which to display and sell their woven products.”
-Thus, the USAID-GEM Program “constructed a trading center that now serves as a dedicated space for weaving, displaying and selling the woven fabrics.”
-About 67 percent of the project cost was funded by USAID while the remaining fund was respectively shared by the municipal and provincial governments of Malapatan and Sarangani.
-Dubbed Balungis Trading Center, the facility aims to help organize production and sales of the products of women and other woven produce in the area.
-The agency will also organize a workshop on product design, packaging and marketing for the women weavers, USAID-GEM told PIA General Santos City.
-According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the woven products of Balungis women’s association are also being eyed for promotion to fashion designers in Cebu and Manila.
-In her message, Senator Legarda who is chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, commended “weaving communities in the country for preserving the tradition of weaving as she encouraged local governments to support such initiatives.”
-“To the members of the Balungis Women’s Association, I laud you for keeping the tradition of weaving alive, for passing on the skill to your children, and for choosing this industry to be part of your daily living,” she told the women’s association, whose 25 members are wives and relatives of former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants.
-Legarda also enjoined the local governments to support the weaving industry to preserve and safeguard the Filipino heritage bringing it into “full bloom again.”
-Meanwhile Governor Migs Dominguez also expressed his appreciation to USAID-GEM for supporting the women’s association of Malapatan urging the beneficiary to maximize the use of the facility and make extra effort to double their production.
-To date, USAID has constructed more than 1,400 infrastructure projects in Mindanao and will be adding approximately 150 more by the end of 2012.
-The continuing pouring in of projects in conflict-ravaged area in Mindanao, USAID said show the sustained commitment both of the Philippine and U.S. governments to promote peace and development in the region.
+On May 1, the program will be launched in General Santos City for the municipalities of Malungon and Alabel in Saragani Province where the first 42 scholarship grantees come from.
+Director Mantilla said more municipalities may be included in the coming months.
+“We have requested for the inclusion of the municipalities of Lake Sebu, T’boli and Sto. Niño in South Cotabato,” Director Mantilla said, adding that they are now awaiting approval of this by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.
+Under the program, beneficiary OSYs who “may also be an occupationally disabled worker, a person with disability, a displaced worker, or a victim of trafficking, illegal recruitment or child labor,” will undergo mandated 20 to 52 days of technical vocational training in TESDA-identified institutions.
+As in the original SPES program, DOLE will pay each beneficiary 40 percent of the prevailing minimum wage in the region for every day of training.
+The amount, according to the program guidelines, may be used as a training allowance or as capital to purchase the OSY’s starter kit.
+More than 400 scholarship slots may be opened in Soccsksargen Region this year for OSYs interested in techvoc trainings that will be identified by TESDA 12. The program is open to OSY’s between 15 to 25 years old, whose family income (including his, if any) does not exceed the latest annual regional poverty threshold level for a family of six, as determined by the National Economic Development Authority.
+Applicants should have reached high school level to be able to participate in the program.
+Interested individuals need to submit to the nearest DOLE or TESDA office the needed documents. For more information, you may refer to the nearest DOLE Field Office or Public Employment Service Office or provincial/district office of TESDA. (DED-PIA 12)
 ==Present tax records, Pacquiao told==