1TAHANAN Party-list Rep. Nathaniel Oducado has filed a bill mandating the creation of more jobs in the provinces to combat poverty amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Oducado filed House Bill (HB) 8746, or the “Rural Employment Assistance Program Act (REAP)” on March 24, which seeks to provide poor families in rural areas with temporary jobs.
REAP will give short-term work, 45 to 90 days each year, to qualified individuals.
In a statement, Oducado said that rural poverty remains higher than urban poverty because many jobs depend on farming and fishing, which are often seasonal, low-paying, and easily affected by disasters and price changes.
“Many people in the provinces want to work but cannot find steady employment, and without a stable income, they leave their families for cities and for other countries,” Oducado, a lawyer, added.
He further said that the conflict in the Middle East shows that overseas jobs should not always be relied upon to provide employment.
Under HB 8746, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local governments will be mandated to undertake projects, including farm support, road repair, and disaster preparedness work.
He said his bill ensures workers get paid at least 75 percent of the minimum wage and receive basic insurance coverage.
“This bill provides both immediate income and hope for a better future in rural communities,” Odcuado said.
