Office of the Vice President
5 July 2017
The Office of the Vice President (OVP), in coordination with the municipality of Panglao, and the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR), conducted a roundtable discussion last June 23, 2017 at the Bellevue Resort Bohol to identify employment and micro-enterprise opportunities in the local community for Senior High School graduates.
“One of the key thrusts of the OVP’s Angat Buhay program is creating enough opportunities for livelihood and employment in its partner communities. We want to ensure that fresh graduates get jobs or get the necessary support to start off as entrepreneurs,” explained Rafael C. Lopa, senior adviser to the Vice President.
Lopa lauded previous efforts of the municipality of Panglao in pushing for more local employment opportunities, and said that the local government’s track record in job-creation was one of the major reasons for its adoption as an Angat Buhay partner. In particular, he cited Panglao’s Turo Turismo Program that paved the way for the training of teachers in local resorts and the construction of a tourism facility at the local high school.
“This convergence among government, business, and the community is the core approach of Angat Buhay. The OVP looks forward to a successful partnership with the municipality of Panglao and local community, that will spur local growth and provide economic opportunities for local residents, particularly the poor and marginalized,” Lopa concluded.
Key members from the local government, business and education sector of Panglao were present during the discussion.