MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the government will pool its environment and energy independence projects under its P330-billion economic resiliency package to create “green collar jobs.”

Part of this thrust will be the allocation of P2 billion for reforestation projects in the mountains of Bukidnon, Cagayn de Oro, and Lanao del Sur, and regenerating mangrove swamps, Arroyo said in a speech during a jobs conference in Malacañang on Monday.

“Among other items of the resiliency plan, we will put all budget-funded energy independence and environment jobs in one box called green collar jobs,” said Arroyo, who recently appointed herself as the country’s environment czar.

Under the Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco-Tourism (GREET), the government will hire workers for coastal clean-up and bay watch projects, the replanting of coconut trees to ensure biofuel feed stock, refitting public utility vehicles and tricycles with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), re-electrification of villages using solar panels and hydroelectric grids, designating bike lanes, and installing solar-powered street lights.

The government will also tap the “Oyster” or out-of-school youth serving towards economic resiliency to build the bicycle lanes, she said.

Under the P650-million poverty-mapping project of the social welfare department, the government will offer 6,000 short-term jobs, including summer jobs for students under the YES or Youth Employment in Summer program.