300,000 Pinoys get jobs from CLEEP

More than 300,000 Filipinos have been given jobs since the government’s emergency employment program was launched in October last year, Malacañang said yesterday.

In his latest twice-a-week report to President Arroyo, Secretary Domingo Panganiban of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, said CLEEP (Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program) had generated 153,887 new jobs or 60.69 percent of the targeted 253,550 jobs for 304,933 individuals or 66.25 percent of the targeted 460,280 individuals nationwide.

The CLEEP used P7.3 billion of the P13.7 billion allocated by national agencies for the program, he added.

Panganiban said the Department of Agriculture generated the most number of new jobs at 89,518, followed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at 65,377.

“The DA has so far been the biggest investor, obligating more than P5 million to the effort, followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways with P838 million,” he said.

In a statement, Malacañang said at the height of the global economic slump, Mrs. Arroyo assigned each cabinet secretary as steward to a specific region to ensure and oversee an emergency jobs program.

“Intended beneficiaries were the poor, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, and out-of-school youths threatened or hurt by reduced or lost income as a consequence of the economic crisis,” read the statement.

“As implemented, CLEEP has created as many jobs as possible in the least possible amount of time for the poor through investments in public works and enterprise development.

“These has included ‘green jobs’ such as forest patrolling, rehabilitating areas prone to or damaged by flood, and replanting denuded areas.”

Malacañang said the new jobs have helped improve the country’s infrastructure, pushed the growth of rural enterprise, improved public health care and food security, and stimulated private investments.

“Through CLEEP, marginalized people have also been able to engage in livelihood activities like raising and dispersing swine and other farm animals, producing fishnets, culturing fish and seaweeds, growing vegetables and operating sari-sari stores,” read the statement.