FREE LIVELIHOOD TRAININGS FOR OLONGAPO RESIDENTS

A series of free livelihood trainings in Barangay Gordon Heights is being conducted through the cooperation of the Livelihood Cooperative Development Office (LCDO) as part of Mayor James Gordon, Jr.’s effort in providing Olongapo residents opportunities to augment their income.

The first set of training in May 27-29 was on fruit processing where residents learned how to make mango puree’ and dried mango. The participants consisted mostly of women ages eighteen (18) years old and above. More trainings like meat processing, dimsum making, fish processing, iodized salt making, baking, sweet pastries, recyclable processing and rug making have been scheduled on June 4-5, June 10-11, June 17-18, June 19, June 25, June 26, July 6-10 and July 15-17, 2009, respectively.

“Women usually excel in business since they are diligent and have the skills in budgeting. New businesses, especially in the fields of cooking and food processing, usually needs the skills of women,” said Aileen Sanchez, LCDO head.

The LCDO will continuously conduct different trainings among the different barangays of the city as Mayor Gordon’s aim in the implementation of the city’s livelihood programs.

LCDO is the main implementor of Mayor Gordon’s livelihood program with the guidance and support of Olongapo First Lady and Zambales Vice Governor Ann Marie C. Gordon.

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ALAY LAKAD PROMOTES PRO POOR PROGRAM IN OLONGAPO

‘’The Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. provides scholarships to Olongapeños specifically those young adults who believe in the value of education,’’ said Alay Lakad Secretariat Fe De Paz in an interview at SBC-DWGO.

De Paz who is also a City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Youth Service Provider added, ‘’Since the Alay Lakad scholarship program was conceived in Olongapo City thirteen (13) years ago, thirty-nine (39) scholars have already benefitted from the program. Isama pa natin ang kanilang mga kapatid at kamag-anakan na pinag-aral, pinapag-aral at pag-aaralin pa ng ating mga Alay-Lakad scholars.’’

Different activities initiated by City Mayor and Alay Lakad Board Director James “Bong” Gordon Jr. with various collaborating government agencies and non-government organizations have raised funds to provide financial assistance to the poor but deserving youth of the city who are in the tertiary level of education.

This year’s lead agency is the Soroptomist International, chaired by Zambales Vice-Gov. and Olongapo First Lady Anne Marie Gordon who said that the Alay-Lakad scholarship program ‘’provides an example of an effective partnership between the government and the private sector in providing the out-of-school youth (OSY) and qualified beneficiaries with opportunities for a better life.’’

Aside from the Alay Lakad and donation boxes placed in different business establishments around the city, additional funds come from donations made by the Department of Education (Deped) personnel and PTCA members, government officials, barangays, civic organizations, business establishments and likewise from raffle tickets, t-shirt printing and social bingo.

Obtained funds from different Alay Lakad activities are channeled by the CSWDO into pro-poor projects like scholarships of beneficiaries, capability trainings and livelihood projects.

Among the foundation’s recent graduates, three (3) graduated with flying colors including Vanessa Amor C. Reside, who graduated cum laude with BS in Information Technology, Jocelyn C. del Rosario, cum laude with BS in Nursing and Reginald Louise M. Aguas, cum laude with BS in Accountancy.

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IBM EXTENDS SKILLS TRAINING ASSISTANCE TO OLONGAPO CITY

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. introduced the delegates of the Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) program under the sponsorship of the International Business Machine (IBM) to the city government employees recently.

The five foreign volunteers are in town for a month to work with various local government offices and agencies.

The ABV Volunteers assigned in Olongapo are assigned to cover three areas of concerns such as Document Tracking System where Raji Sharma, Software Planning of IBM-Australia; Jose Eduardo Martinez Cordero, Security Specialist from IBM-Mexico and Sachin Seth, General Manager of Business Solutions from IBM-India are focused.

Assigned to focus on Strategic Marketing is Neeraj Sharma, Relationship Manager from IBM-India, while Susan Ranft, Relationship Manager from IBM-USA is in charge of the Recruitment and Communications.

“ABV is extending their expertise to Olongapo City by providing practical skills training to key offices in the city government,” Gordon explained. “We hope to gain long-term results from this program with better governance practices and create more employment opportunities for Olongapeños.”

ABV, an overseas development agency, has been around since 1981. ABV contributes to sustainable growth in developing communities through the transfer of knowledge and workplace skills, using volunteer expertise.

Volunteers sourced by ABV came from the world’s largest computer company, IBM, in different parts of the world such as China, India, Brazil, Singapore, USA, Canada and Philippines. These volunteers have extensive experiences in areas where assistance is actually needed.

According to its website, “ABV exists to help alleviate poverty in developing countries and create sustainable development… not by offering these countries money, but by offering the work skills and experience… of men and women who are experts in their various fields.”

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. with the delegates of the Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) Program under the sponsorship of the International Business Machine (IBM) during their first day in Olongapo City recently. Five members stayed in the city for a month to extend skills training assistance to choice offices and departments of the City Government. (Photo and Caption/PAO)

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