By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday that nine local government units (LGUs) in the province have been tagged as “poverty-stricken,” based on a survey presented during the Provincial Development Council’s last quarter meeting yesterday morning.

Lacson identified the LGUs as the towns of Binalbagan, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Ilog, and Isabela.

He said the survey results will serve as guidance for the LGUs on how to deal with poverty.

Lacson said the provincial government will try to provide the nine localities with assistance.

The LGUs can also seek assistance from the national government, he added.

He added that poverty alleviation is one aspect they are focusing on for now.

Lacson said programs like the recent feeding program conducted in Don Salvador Benedicto town, contribute to the eradication of poverty in the LGUs.

The governor said poverty is not about malnutrition in an area, but it is also about the lack of steady means of livelihood for the locals.

He said that one way of alleviating poverty in the province is implementing scholarships to train the community, especially the out-of-school youth.

Lacson added that the provincial government had recently signed an agreement in Cebu province where students will be trained and given an opportunity to work in the export processing zone./DGB, WDJ