DAVAO CITY — Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon urged the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to prioritize the integration of cultural entrepreneurship in their programs for her province as a way to cushion poverty in the midst of the world economic crisis.
Malanyaon brought up the idea on Monday when the DAR officials paid a courtesy visit at the Capitol.
Poverty reduction through entrepreneurship and small enterprises in the province is among the schemes which according to the Governor will help push her administration’s thrust of reducing poverty in the province.
“There is an urgency for us to improve the financial conditions of our people,” she emphasized.
The Agrarian reform officials led by Eduardo Suaybaguio, assured the Governor that the agency would align its development initiatives to the thrusts of the provincial government.
During the meeting, Malanyaon emphasized that, “All interventions must be market-driven.” as she cited the need to produce more livestock and crops to compliment the demand of the consumers and add the existing market inventory.
Her administration, she said, will see to it that the government will also prioritize scholarship programs on agri-business courses to encourage the younger generation to engage in business while helping in the province’s pursuit of creating sustainable livelihood.
The DAR, according to Malanyaon must complement the effort of the provincial government to optimize the resources.
“We are in uncertain times, especially on income and food security,” she said, The local economy must be strengthened and the government must set priorities in spending its resources which means programs and services must be translated to the welfare of the people.
Critical collaboration plays a big role in facing the obstacles given the limited resources of the government “We could not do everything alone, but with you complementing us, we could do many things for our people,” saying “real convergence and real institutionalization of all government programs.”
She also appealed to the agency to implement result-oriented programs. “For every program, there should be a result for the economic condition. “Whatever intervention, for every centavo supposed that the government gives, we should know the impact on every household. That is what I am rallying for,” the Governor said.-with report from Karen Deloso
