D1
SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
LIVELIHOOD COURSE YIELDS NEW 'URBAN FARMERS'
Scan this icon to view the PDF
By Dexter A. See
URBAN PLAYGROUND. An Aeta kid runs in the open field of McKinley West, Bonifacio Global City during the recently held ‘Run for the Mountains’ Indigenous Peoples Games challenge.
AT DIDIPIO MINES
K
WOMEN WORKERS JOIN UNDERGROUND TOIL
ASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya—After demonstrating their ability to perform jobs previously dominated by men like driving giant 100-tonner trucks and blasting rocks during the days of surface mining at the OceanaGold’s Didipio mine here, women miners are now going underground.
Three brave women who graduated from the underground mining simulation and training facility at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga—Marilou Nablul, Ofelia Magastino, and Alma Gonsay—have now assumed duties working beneath the surface recently. Site Skills Training Philippines, who operates an underground mining simulator at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, awarded an “International Certificate II” to the first three women graduates among the 5th batch of graduates. The previous four batches of trainees were all male. So far, the facility produced 54 graduates who are now part of the underground workforce of Didipio mine’s underground operation. “This facility creates opportunity for a sustainable industry-ready workforce in the Philippines, and fosters advocacy to be abreast with current and progressing competencies,” SITE Skills claimed. Prior to her involvement in the said work readiness program, Nablul worked for a contractor that manufacture ex-
plosives used in blasting. She became a blaster, an inspector, and a site in-charge at the Didipio’s open pit. Now she works with the underground surveying team. Gonsay, a graduate of nursing, was a 100-tonner-truck driver at the open pit. Before getting certified to operate a giant truck, she went through a series of various vehicle handling from light vehicles to water trucks. Magastino started as an assistant cook and housekeeping personnel of Didipio Community Development Corp., a community-based corporation funded by OceanaGold. In 2013, she became a bus and water truck driver which served as her stepping stone to the said training and employment opportunity. According to her, working underground has given her the chance to provide for her three children. “I am more confident now. I learned how to discipline myself working at the underground,” Nablul said during her interview after her graduation. Abe Almirol
Out of the 20 women workers in this photo taken in 2015, only one woman worker (seated, fifth from left) wears a gray hard hat used in the underground. Today, three more women who completed an ‘International Certificate II in Underground Mining‘ from Site Skills Training Philippines have recently joined the underground workforce. Abe Almirol
BAGUIO CITY—To help boost their sustainable sources of livelihood and contribute to the production and supply of organically raised vegetables for the rapidly increasing number of consumers in this city, local farmers successfully finished ‘urban gardening’ training course recently. Fifty-nine farmers—all current recipients of the government’s conditional cash transfer program— graduated from a 12-week course. A project of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan livelihood program, the urban gardening course is aimed at providing permanent sources of livelihood for families and creating model organic farms within the thickly populated urban centers. The successful candidates, prequalified and selected by the City’s Social Welfare and Development Office, harvested their produce in time for their graduation day rites from two planting sites: The Quezon Elementary School and in Happy Hallow. The KSK Farmers Training Program, together with Harbest Agribusiness Corp., and the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with LGUs and NGOs, was the seed that bore fruits all over the Philippines. In 2006, SM Group founder, Henry Sy Sr., thought of a sustainable project that will uplift the living standards of small Filipino farmers.
SUBIC TO HOST ECOTOURISM FESTIVAL THE United Nations World Tourism Organization has declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development to highlight ecotourism, a vital concept in the booming industry in biodiversity-rich countries. In line with this global observance, the International School of Sustainable Tourism, together with the Department of Tourism, are spearheading the Subic Ecotourism Festival set on May 29 to June 1 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center. The biggest of its kind in the country, the core of the event is a forum that brings together the leaders of the Global Ecotourism Network, and its regional subsidiary, the Asian Ecotourism Network. According to ISST president Mina Gabor, the event is a rare opportunity for delegates to learn from and network with the best practitioners in the industry. “Given the Philippines’ tourism industry is driven largely by its natural attractions, it is important to balance economic benefit, conservation and respect for local communities which the GEN board members are greatly recognized for,” she enthused.
MILLENNIALS ‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE’
I am MAD’s new volunteer, Pao, poses with the kids during the MAD hands activity as millennial volunteers, the beneficiaries and their parents pose for a souvenir photo (inset) as the group conquered the town of Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon for its 32nd MAD Camp area at Tomas and Maria Maglaya Memorial School.
SIBUYAN ISLAND, Romblon—Driven by their passion and desire to make their time worthwhile this summer, 20 volunteers from across the country, mostly millennials recently gathered for a three-day outreach program called “I am M.A.D” (Making A Difference) Camp in this resort-like municipality. The millennial volunteers consist of old and new ones converged here to help 50 students of Tomas and Maria Maglaya Memorial School in Magdiwang to develop their innermost potentials and to make a difference in many simple ways starting from themselves to their families,
schoolmates, and their community. Mark Conrad ‘Maco’ Ravanzo, cofounder and CEO of I am Making A Difference Inc., said, having a purpose is “empowering.” “Just as we millennials are seeking to find purpose in our career, we also seek purpose in almost everything we do which includes traveling. “And this is what I am MAD Inc. is doing. Making meaningful difference not only to our beneficiaries but also to our co-volunteers who are committed to discover and share their passions through volunteerism,” Ravanzo explained. The camping activities concluded with an encounter with the parents
of the beneficiaries, introducing the group’s mission and encouraged them to support their children in reaching their dreams and be more proactive in their own community. Afterwards, the families met in a mini-retreat session before handling I am MAD’s “Bags of Dreams” school supply gifts to the students. Magdiwang Mayor Denisa Repizo was present during the closing ceremonies where volunteers and beneficiaries alike had the chance to show their appreciation for the support given by the community and local government in making the I am MAD Camp possible.