34 sewing machines and starter kits benefit newly trained dressmakers

The graduates of Dressmaking and Tailoring course with Regional Project Coordinator Gina Minete, Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, and Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua during the ribbon cutting ceremony and distribution of sewing machines.

Thirty four (34) newly-trained dressmakers from different barangays of Ligao City were granted new sewing machines and starter kits after finishing a 28-day Dressmaking and Tailoring Course. The program was implemented by the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) which constitutes the Local Government Unit of Ligao, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the Bottom-Up Budgeting and Planning (BuBP) to eradicate poverty and empower women by developing their skills and giving them resources to start their own livelihood.

With the theme, "Pagpakusug sa Kapasidad kang mga Kababaihan, Simbag para ang Pagtios Mabawasan [Strengthening women's capacity to lessen poverty]," the graduates of the program received their Dressmaking National Certificate (NC) II for passing the Dressmaking and Tailoring Assessment, special awards for those who excelled in the course, together with the starter kit and sewing machine during the 1st Dressmakers’ Commencement Exercises on 29 May 2015 at Robredo Bldg., Tuburan, Ligao City.

The graduates wore their sewn uniforms during the Dressmaker's 1st Commencement Exercises

Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua further explained that the program aims to extend the services and benefits of the BuBP to the communities in the upland and coastal areas. Hence, the beneficiaries of the program came from different communities in Ligao City. She also encouraged the graduates to be the forerunners of successful dressmakers in the city.

The government programs such as the free courses offered by the TESDA bring opportunities to indigent families to improve their living condition thereby slowly eradicating poverty. Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez said that the Dressmaking course gives women, especially the housewives, to enhance their skills and help their families find additional sources of income. He also acknowledged the dedication of Pres. Benigno Aquino III to improve the lives of every Filipino. His transparency proves that the funds were properly allocated for the implementation of several projects.

Written by Lala Peñafiel

A City Hall for the upland

To make government services available in the upland barangays, the local government of Ligao City, in partnership with Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez, established the Ligao City Hall Annex at Paulba, Ligao City which opened on June 4, 2012.

With the establishment of the City Hall Annex, “people in the upland barangays don’t have to come down and do their businesses here in the City Hall,” said Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua. Frontline services are now available in the City Hall Annex. People can now apply for and get copies of birth certificates, inquire on the requirements for civil wedding, or request a National Statistics Office (NSO) copy of documents-through batch processing- without having to spend more time and money going to the City Hall or regional offices such as the NSO.

The City Hall Annex has representatives of offices that offer frontline services, according to Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua. These offices include the Local Civil Registrar (LCR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), City Assessor’s Office, City Treasurer’s Office, and the Agriculture Office. There are representatives also assigned for burial, medical, and financial assistance. The representative office of the City Health Office (CHO), on the other hand, is located at the Paulba Infirmary just three meters away from the City Hall Annex.

The representatives of these offices travel every day from the City Hall to the City Hall Annex to cater the needs of the people in the upland barangays. Mayor Patty Gonzalez-Alsua stated the need for new employees that would take over in the service for the City Hall Annex. “We are now considering hiring people na taga-doon din sa Paulba. So we just have to train them at sila na magte-take over doon para hindi na tayo naghahatid-sundo ng mga employees doon. [We are now considering hiring people from Paulba. So we just have to train them so they can later take over and the representatives no longer have to travel back and forth.], ” said Mayor Alsua.

With the opportunities that came with the establishment of the City Hall Annex, the local government also looks forward to having Paulba as the business center for the upland barangays in Ligao City. 

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DILG ROV Director Blandino M. Maceda graces the opening and blessing of the Ligao City Hall Annex: Upland Central Extension Services Office