STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP. The National Irrigation Administration represented by Regional Manager Gerardo Corsiga (seated, 2nd from L) and Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI represented by Regional Director Rebecca Geamala (center) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the generation of employment and livelihoods for the disadvantaged population of Region VI under the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) Convergence Project. Also in photo are JRMP II Division Manager for Engineering Engineer Jonel Borres (seated,1st from L) and DSWD Assistant Regional Director Delia Bacolcol (seated, 1st from R). Standing as witnesses at the back are the Heads of Divisions and Sections of JRMP II and personnel from DSWD.
Iloilo City - Better lives are up for the stakeholders and disadvantaged population of Iloilo’s biggest irrigation development project. On October 20, 2016, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI strengthened partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
“Generating Employment and Livelihoods for the Disadvantaged Population of Region VI under the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) Convergence Project”, the MOU goes. It aims to maximize resources and programs of both agencies for poverty alleviation and protection of social, cultural, and economic well-beings of project-affected communities. Through this, sustainable livelihoods, employment and interventions for affected families of government infrastructure projects such as the JRMP II are secured and ensured.
“It is the strong desire of the DSWD to expand its services to people especially those we cannot reach and those who have less or no access at all to government services,” explained DSWD Regional Director Rebecca P. Geamala. “Through NIA, we will reach out to families affected by the JRMP II not only in Calinog but in the 22 other towns affected by it,” she added.
Through DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), qualified Project-Affected Families (PAFs) will be provided with livelihood intervention through four modalities. These include Skills Training with provision of starter kits for one qualified household member. There will also be Pre Employment Assistance Fund (PEAF) for one eligible skilled beneficiary and Seed Capital Fund for establishment of microenterprises. Finally, Cash Building Livelihood Asset to provide emergency employment for 11 days with a daily rate equivalent to 75% of the Regional minimum wage.
NIA Regional Manager and Concurrent Project Manager Engineer Gerardo P. Corsiga welcomed the strong support of DSWD to the project.
“It has always been our aim to invite all government agencies to come in and join this project. . .this partnership with DSWD will help alleviate the living conditions of our poor brothers in a wider scope,” Engineer Corsiga explained. “We thank the DSWD for their support to JRMP II,” he added.
This strengthened partnership between the two agencies is covered by the Inter-Agency Mechanism for JRMP II implementation. Under this initiative, 25 national government agencies, the Provincial Government of Iloilo, and the Local Government Unit of Calinog forged a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to address needs of various stakeholders. These include infrastructure, livelihood and social basic services requests of the affected Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities.
JRMP II will be the first large-scale reservoir dam outside of Luzon. It will provide year-round irrigation to 31,840 hectares of farm land and increase rice production. Most importantly, the project will contribute to the national rice self-sufficiency target of 7.6 percent. Also, its 6.6 megawatts hydroelectric power and bulk water component will augment the province’s and city’s demand for power and water.
The project is a ‘much-needed’ development project for every Illonggo family.
