DILG promotes LEAP project

MANILA, Philippines — “Local government units (LGUs) are partners of the national government and are better positioned to help mitigate the impact of the crisis through counter measures to stimulate local economy.”

This was stressed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as it promoted the Local Economic Assistance Program (LEAP), a project geared to shoulder the woes brought about by the plunge of the worldwide economy.

The LEAP aims to strengthen LGU capacities to manage and implement livelihood projects and emergency employment activities; facilitate LGU access to financing facilities to finance projects for poverty alleviation, infrastructure, and local development; and assist LGUs implement strategic and innovative approaches to promote local economic development.

The program will assist select LGUs, particularly fourth to sixth class municipalities. One of the projects is the roadside maintenance along provincial and city roads in Quezon and Rizal.

The target beneficiaries of the program are the out-of-school-youth and unemployed members of the poorest families in both Quezon and Rizal. The main goal of the project is to provide emergency employment to those in need.

Another project is the “Puhunan Para sa Kabuhayan.’’ The project will make LGUs capable of managing their own livelihood trainings and micro-credit financing and will benefit unemployed members of the communities who are members of cooperatives and peoples organizations.

There is also the provision of quality water services project which will help 36 waterless municipalities in Regions 2, 5, 9, 10, and CARAGA.

By getting the poor locals to work for the improvement of their water services, the LEAP will solve two problems: providing employment and improve the efficiency, quality, and affordability of the locals’ water services. –CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG, Manila Bulletin