Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Uncompleted Longest Bridge

Florence F. Hibionada of the Philippines News Service reported Iloilo province may have the "longest hanging footbridge. The project is estimated to cost P3.03 million when completed.

But the report says about P2.9 million have already been spent and "still up to now we had to endure the difficulty and inconvenience of crossing the Sibalom river on foot". The footbridge is situated in Tigbawan, Iloilo.

In a petition sent to Mayor Excelsior Torres and members of the Tigbauan Town Sang-gunian, the footbridge was destroyed during typhoon Frank. But since then and up to now, the bridge is not repaired. It is not only too long to build, but also very expensive.

Of the three million pesos allocated to the bridge construction, 2.9 million pesos was already paid to the contractor, but the construction is past the time limit, Hibionada e-mailed the MP. The people affected who have suffered the absence of a bridge is now demanding to penalize the contractor for failure to finish the construction as stipulated in the contract.

Iloilo does not only have the longest foot-bridge, too expensive and too long to construct, it also have constructed a multi billion pesos worth of international airport which is not used by any plane destined abroad.

DA 6 Vaccinates 200 Dogs

The Department of Agriculture 6 (DA6) reported it has vaccinated 200 dogs last month. The DA6 did it in celebration of the month of March as rabies awareness month. The vaccinations were done in Jordan, Guimaras.

Well and Good! The vaccination activity will help prevent the occurrence of diseases associated with rabies.

But what does the DA do with the dogs going around the community? It is only in the Philippines where dogs are free to roam around town. Dogs do not only bite and spread rabies, dogs also are road hazards. How many lives have been lost due to vehicular accidents cause by dogs?

DOLE Targets 7,682 Students In WV

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Iloilo City has allotted P13.077 million for its Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), which targets 7,682 recipients from Western Visayas.

DOLE information officer Amy Judicpa, however, projects of a chance that they would overshoot the target.

She added that some local government units (LGUs) decided to adopt the program, opted to provide the 100 percent share for the salary or they lessen the number of days to accommodate more student-jobseekers.

Based on the SPES concept, the DOLE will shoulder 40 percent of the salary and the employer/LGU will pay the remaining 60 percent.

Of the projected number, 760 are allotted for Aklan; 751 for Antique; 771, Capiz; 250, Guimaras; 1,650, Iloilo and 3,500, Negros Occidental.

Judicpa, urged employers, especially LGUs to follow the criteria set by the program to be able to assist the target sector.

Those who are eligible for the program, she said, are poor but deserving students with ages not less than 15 but not more than 25 years old; they must have a passing grade during the last term attended and the annual family income must not exceed the annual regional poverty threshold level for a family of six which is P16,036 in the case of Western Visayas.

The DOLE is now in the process of accepting pledges from interested employers.

The summer program will be from April to June for a maximum of 20-22 days. Students may apply at the DOLE office or at the PESO of participating LGUs. /MP