TACLOBAN CITY– the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has extended assistance to seven people’s organizations that are into tourism-related work.

Lawyer Felipe Egargo Jr., DOLE Undersecretary for legislative liaison and legal affairs cluster, who visited the province, said that as part of their commitment, their office has released P3.5 million worth of livelihood grants to be given to seven tourism workers associations in Basey town.

“We are thankful that these livelihood projects will not only help the members of the associations but will also complement the efforts of the province to boost its tourism industry,” he said.

The seven People’s Organizations that were granted funds were the Barangay Magallanes Kayaking Workers Association; Barangay Binongtu-an Multisectoral Tourism Workers Association; Rawis Balantac Tourism Services Association; Barangay del Pilar Lagkaw Tourism Workers Association; Barangay Burgos Multisectoral Eco-tourism Association; Bungangsakit Tourism Workers Association and Basey Association for Native Industry Growth.

Each of the associations received P500,000 worth of livelihood assistance which they will use to procure supplies and equipment for the Mabaysay Cultural River Cruise, part of the newly-launch Spark Samar Adventure tourism program of the provincial government.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Aiming to have a better access road to interconnect with the adjacent community, the Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now in its first phase of constructing a road to connect the villages of Banawang to Astorga road, both in Tunga town.

According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura, the road opening project endeavors to achieve a service road that would connect the two barangays and once completed, 627 linear meters of 5-meter width will be concreted on the Banawangside.

“The total road length from Banawang to Astorga measures around two kilometers. We are aiming to continue this project in the coming years so that this road network will be useful to the local community. This will serve as a short route to the town proper and educational facilities,” he said.

“Thus, travel time and transportation costs will be lessened not only for motorists and the traveling public but also for the local traders,” Oppura added.

With a total project cost of P9.88 million, construction started on February 26, 2024, the road project is to be completed on June 13, 2024.

The project is funded under the DPWH General Appropriations Act of CY-2024 under BIP-access roads and/or bridges from the national road leading to major/strategic public buildings and facilities.

The municipality of Tunga is a 6th-class town in the province of Leyte with a population of 7,656 people spread on its eight barangays.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

‘Tara Basa Tutoring Program’

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the provincial government of Samar entered a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the ‘Tara, Basa Tutoring Program’ in the province.

The agreement was signed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Governor Sharee Ann Tan on Friday (April 19).

Also present during the occasion were Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan(2nd district) and Samar State University (SSU) president Redentor Palencia; and Northwest Samar State University (NSSU) president Benjamin Pecayo, represented by its university vice president for academic affairs, Ramil Catamora, among others.

The agreement is part of the ongoing expansion of DSWD’s reformatted educational assistance in more areas across different regions.

“We believe we need to end illiteracy (in the country),” Gatchalian said in his speech prior to the MOA signing attended by 24 mayors in Samar, and beneficiaries of the program.

The Tara, Basa Tutoring Program of the DSWD targets to eradicate learning poverty in the country at the same time helps college students by giving them financial assistance for joining as tutors.

College students who will participate as tutors will be paid P415 per day for 20 days duration of the program.

At least 400 students from the SSSU and NwSSU were selected to tutor 2,000 elementary students who are struggling to read.

They will be joined by 40 youth development workers throughout the duration of the program.

To make the program sustainable parents will have to join the ‘Nanay-Tatay Parenting Program’ or teaching program where they will be trained as first teachers at home.
They will receive P235 a day for attending the teaching session.

Gov. Tan, in her message, expressed her gratefulness to the DSWD for implementing the program in her province.

She also urges the mayors of Samar to support the program once it is cascaded to their respective localities.

Aside from Samar, the same program is also being implemented in San Jose Del Monte City, Malolos City, Bulacan Province, Cebu City, Marawi City, Taraka in Lanao Del Sur, Quezon province, and National Capital Region (NCR).
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)