Press Release
August 16, 2008

Loren's Kabuhayan bill seen to spur rural development

Centers providing educational and instructional activities designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitude of intended beneficiaries will be established in the municipalities and provinces once Senator Loren Legarda's Kabuhay bill is enacted.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development, said her bill covers the establishment of skills training centers in fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities. She added that the chances of realizing the goals and objective contained in her Senate Bill No. 2092 are handsome, especially now that the House of Representatives counterpart measure - H.B. No. 4349 -- has already been approved.

"The realization of our dream to establish livelihood and skills training centers in fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities of our country is close at hand," said Legarda.

"This could be an effective way to better prepare the intended beneficiaries to engage in gainful employment and entrepreneurial works," she added.

Legarda's bill was approved on third and final reading last March 11, while the HB No. 4349 was approved last August 6.

Legarda said the two bills seek to harmonize all government activities providing livelihood and skills training to ensure efficiency in delivering such services and programs to their intended beneficiaries, the poorest of the poor.

"This law will complement the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Act whose passage we also pushed. The way I see it, recipients of the livelihood and skills training programs in the centers to be established under the Barangay Kabuhayan Law may well avail of the funding and technical support that are now available under the SMEs Act," she said.

When signed into law, the Barangay Kabuhayan bill shall establish satellite or mobile livelihood centers in a barangay or barangay clusters, where deemed necessary by the municipal mayor. Legarda said she doubts any local government unit (LGU) would pass up an opportunity to have training centers for its residents.

Also the chair of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee, Legarda said the Barangay Kabuhayan bill seeks to spur rural development to address creeping poverty in the countryside. She said it will empower local governments to enhance the productive capacities of their large yet untapped human resources.

"This law, along with the SME Act, should open doors for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for our people," Legarda said.

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