A LONG ROAD TO A TRUE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM
It has been ten months since we started our advocacy about the ideal livelihood programs for the City of Calamba. Many have been said about this matter and yet just a few were accomplished. We operationally tested our targeted livelihood programs in our NGO and have gathered results that could be applied for future livelihood programs in the city. What are the presumed requirements for a successful livelihood program in Calamba? In my ten months of advocacy for these livelihood programs together with my Honorable City Councilor, many setbacks were encountered due to the highly politicized nature of the local government of Calamba. The dynamic nature of “Calamba Politics” has greatly affected the advocacy for a genuine people oriented livelihood program. This program of which I am speaking it out loud is the partisan politics in the Executive Department, Legislative Department and amongst the Department Heads. Because of this partisan politicking, the pursuit of a sustainable, well matched and locally based livelihood program is continuously out of reach. In my eighteen (18) years as an Extension veterinarian both in the public and private sector until my retirement from the biggest conglomerate company in the country today, never have I encountered such a very tedious tasks. Why? When I was connected with the academe, the problem I encountered was the sources of funds for these type of projects. When I was with the private sector, the company’s interest above all is the primary concern. When I entered the military service, our dedicated Officers and Enlisted Personnel were overshadowed by corrupt elements of that prestigious organization. With the Local government at present, the Executive, Legislative and the line departments are more preoccupied on how they could hold on to power instead of pushing the agenda of a genuine poverty alleviation program through sustainable livelihoods.
Just recently, we had a meeting with a cooperative from the province and we tried to integrate all the ideas in pursuit of the integrated sustainable livelihood program for the city. And in so doing, the call for the proposal to integrate was unanimously carried by the group of stakeholders. We are now waiting for the said proposal as requested by our Livelihood department.
What is at stake at this point and what are the feedbacks from our stake holders by this time. What is at stake is 10 Million worth of taxpayers money, untouched because of this partisan politics. Why? Because the Department Chairman who has to implement the programs was by-passed by the confirming authorities because of his close association with the executive department. The Livelihood Department should be headed by a person of integrity, knowledge, technical competence and a big heart with a political will to implement these sustainable programs regardless of his political affiliation. This should be one of our line departments that should be a stand alone department and the least politicized. Why, its head should have managerial skills because the department could be converted into an income generating unit in the future because of its successful livelihood programs. He should be endowed with the marketing skills to network our programs in the future. He should be creative while at the same time equipped with the technical competence to push his agenda for the good of the greater majority. I could see that the appointed candidate has all these qualities and is qualified for the said position. To my opinion and my experienced both in the public and private sector, the position should be sourced out because people from the public sector are more attuned as good leaders rather than good managers. People from the public service are attuned to dole outs rather than making profits from the government funds. If we pursue the premise that the Livelihood department in the future would be an income generating arm of the local government, as early as in the appointment stage… we should be eyeing a manager to run this department rather than a head department.
What is the feed back of the stake holders at this point in time. As expected, they are frustrated on how the pace is going. Why, because like me, they have waited for the democracy process to take place. The chicken and the egg process has taken its told and if we are lucky, our livelihood program will commenced before Christmas.
A CALL FOR SUPPORT… If we like our livelihood programs to proceed, refrain from partisan politics and help push the agenda of genuine people oriented livelihood for poverty alleviation… Put things and people at proper perspective and be people oriented…BATTLE EVIL BY DOING GOOD—Doc Barbz, President of Samahang Kabuhayan sa Calamba Laguna Inc.
