Tuesday, February 06, 2007
More social services now within reach of village folks
By Jemin B. Guillermo
ROXAS CITY -- As President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has laid down the hunger mitigation master plan of the National Government, more social services have been put in place to reach the village folks.
Project Development Officer Eliseo Abucay of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) Field Extension Office said that as of January this year, there are already 130 Tindahan Natin outlets that serve the community.
Abucay said the Tindahan Natin project had been initiated by President Arroyo to provide the public with greater access to quality and affordable rice and noodles.
According to him, three accredited Tindahan Natin outlets in the province, particularly in Panitan and San Agustin, Dumalag towns, have each received P20,000 loan from DSWD.
The said loan is zero interest and payable within one year, he said, explaining that the proprietor is only obliged to pay P1,667 per month.
In partnership with the National Food Authority (NFA), DSWD is targeting some 110 Tindahan Natin outlets for accreditation, however, they were able to accredit 120 stores in December last year.
This January alone, they have accredited 10 more Tindahan Natin stores.
Recently, Arroyo presented some hunger mitigating measures. These are increasing food production, enhancing efficiency of logistics and food delivery; putting more money in poor people's pockets; promoting good nutrition and managing the population.
In order to put more money to the people's pockets, the President tasked concerned government agencies to improve productivity in coconut areas, provide more aggressive micro-financing, and maximize employment opportunities in construction and maintenance of farm-to-market roads, irrigation and roadside maintenance.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (February 6, 2007 issue)
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