TAGUM, DAVAO DEL NORTE — Fresh college graduates who have yet to sustain their board exam review classes, to buy personal needs and to contribute to the needs of their families have been given opportunities by the trade department.
Gino Hinayan, 22 years of age of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte and Vivian Villanueva, 21, of Barangay Casilac, Panabo City are among those who have landed jobs in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (Cleep).
The national government runs Cleep as a mitigating measure to ward off the economically adverse effects of the global financial crisis which has sent millions of workers worldwide jobless, as businesses are either closing shops or downsizing.
Hinayan, a secondary education graduate from Bukidnon State College – Sto. Tomas annex campus, and Villanueva, an Agriculture Technology graduate of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), are two of the five hired by DTI Davao del Norte provincial office to conduct weekly price monitoring.
Villanueva is assigned to monitor the prices of construction materials, school supplies, manufactured basic and prime commodities in Panabo City while Hinayan does the same in Kapalong.
Barely two months into their job, both claim to have developed self-confidence as they deal and interact with people they meet while carrying out their task.
“I was quite shy before but I have gained self-confidence through my work,” Villanueva said in the local dialect. “I have learned to strength my patience,” said Hinayan who confessed to be short-tempered.
Hinayan and Villanueva now have the money they need for their board review and to pay for their licensure board examinations.
Hinayan will be taking the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in September while Villanueva is set to take the licensure exam for agriculture technologists in July.
Though paid with only 5,000 pesos a month, Hinayan helps with the allowance of his younger brother while Villanueva brings home food for her family during paydays.
Hired for a six-month stint from April to October this year, the price monitors do their field work from Monday to Wednesday and consolidate data during Thursdays and Fridays.
The DTI provincial office has expanded its price monitoring coverage. It now includes Panabo City, the municipalities of Sto Tomas and Kapalong now that it has hired five price monitors through Cleep.
Along with the five price monitors, DTI provincial and regional offices have also employed a Cleep provincial coordinator and a financial analyst to assist neophyte entrepreneurs in coming up with plans to start up their businesses.
In an interview, DTI regional director Marizon Loreto said the agency has employed 37 individuals through Cleep, aside from the business opportunities that it has opened through conducting entrepreneurship trainings and business seminars.
Other DTI provincial offices and even regional offices are also hiring people to do price monitoring. (PIA XI/JMDA)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to Davao Today for publication. Please email your materials to davaotoday@gmail.com. Davao Today is not responsible for the content of these
materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of Davao Today and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.
