Volume I - Number 4 - Department of Labor and Employment

Combining income and ingenuity
More women workers
turn scrap to riches with
P500,000 worth of DOLE
livelihood packages
B
eyond their daily orthodox roles in the
four corners of home, women now trek
outside their household duties to drive
the racetrack towards the world of work.
For the members of Kababaihang Iisa ang Layuning Umunlad ang Sambayanan (KILUS) Foundation Environmental
and Multipurpose Cooperative and Masville Scrap to Riches
(MS2R) Inc., they believe that women can shift gears to win the
race of improving their socio-economic condition through the
road of self-employment.
With the pledge to provide alternative income and increased
employability through sustainable livelihood undertakings to
more women workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the DOLE-National Capital Region
(NCR) hypes its Kabuhayan Programs as it recently awarded a
total of P526,000 worth of livelihood assistance to the two (2)
community-based groups.
Citing a report by NCR Director Raymundo Agravante, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
said the PAPAMAMARISAN and MUNTAPARLAS Field
Offices facilitated the release of P300,000 and P226,000, respectively, for the livelihood enhancement project of KILUS
SEWING STRAWS INTO SAVINGS. The Kababaihang
Iisa ang Layuning Umunladang Sambayanan (KILUS)
Foundation headed by its president, Editha Santiago
(inset) continues their eco-friendly enterprise as they
turn more doy packs into marketable merchandises.
Foundation in Pasig City and Masville Scrap to Riches (MS2R),
Inc., in Parañaque City.
Baldoz hailed the efforts of DOLE-NCR and its Field Offices
in continuously facilitating the provision of livelihood packages, saying that “through the provision of livelihood assistance,
the DOLE is giving equal entrepreneurial opportunities to a
wide range of beneficiaries, including women workers.”
“We want to make them productive and self-sufficient through
self-employment,” Baldoz said, as she once again emphasized
that self-employment and entrepreneurship are viable alternatives to wage employment.
In his report, Agravante said the financial assistance received
by the KILUS Foundation Environmental and Multipurpose
Cooperative will be used to buy additional raw materials, hispeed sewing machines, and other sewing tools to boost the
cooperative’s production of eco-friendly bags out of recycled
empty juice doy packs, with its expansion project to employ
more than 30 women Pasigueños.
The Kababaihang Iisa ang Layuning Umunlad ang Sambayanan (KILUS) Foundation of Barangay Ugong, Pasig City
started as a community cleaning and greening advocate in
1998. Since then, the group has transformed millions of disTo page 8
DOLE Good News
S
Through SEnA, 84-year old retiree gets heard,
receives P5,406.30 balance of separation pay
ilvestre Cabrales, 84 years old, is
one who loves to write. Since his
separation from Dole Philippines,
Inc. in 1984, he had written letters to no
less than four Presidents complaining
that he had been allegedly illegally
dismissed and, therefore, improperly
compensated.
All his letters were unanswered. They had
fallen on deaf ears . . . until 03 June 2011.
On
that
date,
then
DOLE
Undersecretary for Labor Relations
Danilo C. Cruz, now Undersecretary for
Employment, endorsed to the National
Conciliation and Mediation BoardRegional Branch No. 12 Mr. Cabrales’s
voluminous correspondence to the former
Philippine Presidents. Undersecretary
Cruz instructed the NCMB to attend to
the complaint.
The NCMB went through his
correspondence. Shortly afterwards, it
set a conference under the 30-day Single
Entry Approach (SEnA) mechanism
of the DOLE. Since Mr. Cabrales is so
fragile to travel, the NCMB arranged that
the conference be held at a place near his
residence.
During the SEnA conference, the
Single-Entry Approach Desk (SEAD)
officer was able to establish that Mr. CaEditor
NICON F. FAMERONAG
Director, LCO
Associate Editor
FLORO L. FERNANDO
Staff Writers
JOSE C. DE LEON
MARK JAIME L. CERDENIA
CELESTE T. MARING
KAREN R. SERRANO
MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA
Editorial Assistants
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
MADELYN D. DOMETITA
Graphic Artist
GREGORIO I. GALMAN
Photographer
JOMAR S. LAGMAY
Circulation Manager
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
October 2011
brales was not able to file any complaint
after he was separated from the service,
but he was duly paid with his separation
pay, as shown by evidences culled by
management which bear Mr. Cabrales’s
signatures.
Nevertheless, the management of
Dole Philippines Inc. took cognizance
of Mr. Cabrales’s circumstances.
After the conference, the company
wrote him a check for P5,406.30 representing the remaining balance of his
separation pay after it admitted an error in computation made by the current
Dole Philippines Inc. Human Resource
Director Atty. Mel Hernandez.
“In consideration of his 17 years in
the Company, we are providing Mr.
Cabrales the above amount, although
legally, his claim for it has already been
barred by law,” said Robert
Buranday, Dole Philippines
Inc. Human Resource Manager.
Too happy at the
end of his years of
waiting, Mr. Cabrales
said: “The amount,
though not that big, is
very welcome. What I
only wanted was to have
a forum where I can personally air my
grievances to the company.”
The SEnA is that forum, which the
DOLE provided. It is a reform measure institutionalized by Secretary
Baldoz last year through D.O. 107-10
to effect faster, fairer, and inexpensive settlement of labor issues and to
prevent these issues from maturing
into actual labor cases.
U n d e r the SEnA, single entry approach
desks (SEADs) have
been
established in every
DOLE offices nationwide to serve
as entry points
in speeding up
the resolution of
all cases affecting
workers and employers. Trained officers,
called SEADOs, man
the desks. Their role is to facilitate conciliation-mediation between opposing parties within 30
days.
In thanking the NCMB, Mr.
Cabrales said that at his age, it
is only now that his concern was
positively addressed by a proper
government agency.
Contributing Writers
GENEVIEVE S. TATAD
GEORGE LUBIR, JR.
ARLY STA. ANA-VALDEZ
REGINALD B. ESTIOCO
JEREMIAH M. BORJA
DULCE AMOR L. LEDESMA
ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA
RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE
AMALIA N. JUDICPA
EFREN O. VITO
VIRGILIO A. DOROJA, JR.
JAZMIN O. CINCO
MILDRED DABLIO
JOY FLORDELIS CORDERO
CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA
ANNIE TANGPOS
The DOLE Good News is published by the Department
of Labor and Employment with editorial office at the
Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building,
Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are
those of the writers and/or their sources and do not
necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine
Government’s.
Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome.
Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 5273000 loc. 620, 621, 622, 623, 625, 626, 627. Our fax number
is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.
ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com.
DOLE Good News
S
trengthening a nationwide ‘bridging
employment’ program to capacitate
and enhance the employability
of young student-workers, Labor and
Employment
Secretary
Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday hailed the
extensive efforts of the DOLE Regional
Offices in the implementation of the
Special Program for the Employment
of Students (SPES), which brought
education and employment to 100,047
poor but deserving student-beneficiaries
across all regions.
“With the reinforced implementation of SPES in the regions, the DOLE
definitely makes an impact in the lives of
thousands of Filipino students who have
no means but have the ability to pursue
college education,” Baldoz said.
The labor and employment chief said
the 16 regional offices had recently paid
the DOLE’s share of over P142 million
in the wages of 100,047 SPES beneficiaries from January to September 2011,
distributed regionally as follows: NCR,
P30 million to 10,013 students; CAR,
P6.9 million to 2,801 students; Region 1,
P5.7 million to 2,792 students; Region 2,
7.7 million to 6,590 students; Region 3,
P9.7 million to 47,051 students; Region
4-A, P13.2 million to 9,967 students; Region 4-B, P5.3 million to 3,381 students;
Region 5, P5.2 million to 3,482 students;
Region 6, P11.8 million to 10,911 students; Region 7, P6.2 million to 5,031
students; Region 8, P4.4 million to 4,825
students; Region 9, P7.2 million for 9,623
students; Region 10, P5.9 million to
3,556 students; Region 11, P7.9 million
to 6,401 students; Region 12, P10 million
to 5,437 students; and CARAGA, P4.5
million to 8,186 students.
SPES, a bridging mechanism that enables student-beneficiaries gain skills and
workplace experience, was created under
Republic Act 7323.
Under the SPES, student-beneficiaries
are assigned to work in SPES-registered
private establishments, government institutions, and departments. Students get paid
a minimum wage, 40 percent of which is
in the form of a voucher applicable for the
payment of tuition fees and books in any
secondary, tertiary, vocational or technical
educational institution. The 60 percent is
paid for in cash by the employers. They are
DOLE brings education, employment
closer to 100,047 students through SPES
The Mountain Maid Training and Development Foundation (MMTDF) of Baguio City, which operates a
jam and pastry business, has been recognized by the DOLE as one fine example of the Special Program
for the Employment of Students (SPES) with MMTDF providing short-term employment for students
and women workers from deprerssed communities in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
also entitled to other benefits and privileges
under the Labor Code.
The law empowers Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) to deliver
employment facilitation services for the
program, and local government units to
assume greater responsibility in its implementation, particularly in the payment of
the wages or salaries of the beneficiaries.
“The SPES is an opportunity to enhance
the employability of the youth, who will
eventually be the next generation of the
country’s workforce. More than giving
the students gainful experience while
earning some cash they can use when they
go back to school, we want a long-term
result of the SPES program by means of
increased employment opportunities to
the beneficiaries,” Baldoz said.
Earlier this year, Baldoz expressed
utmost gratitude to President Benigno S.
Aquino III following the release by the
Department of Budget and Management
of the additional P168.1 million budget
for the SPES.
ERRATUM
In the DOLE Good News September issue, a photo
published on page 4 was mistakenly attributed to the
release of a livelihood grant. The caption should have
been “Productivity Advocacy in Northern Mindanao.
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and Regional
Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-10)
Secretary Estrella Uy-Pahalla shake hands after the MOA
signing between the Mindanao University of Science
and Technology and RTWPB-10 for a joint productivity
advocacy for students and labor force entrants.”
“The President has been true to his
promise and the SPES’ increased budget
really helped more poor but industrious
students to earn tuition money for their
college education,” she said.
Ensuring sustainability of the SPES, Baldoz calls on the private sector to employ
poor students and out-of-school youth who
deserve to go to school under the SPES.
“The DOLE highly considers the
private sector as partners to reinforce the
long-term impact of the program to our
student-beneficiaries. Such partnership
is borne out of their corporate social
responsibility as they take part in helping
more students,” she said.
If you believe in
Good News, tell us.
And receive a gift in return. The Labor
Communications Office is now open to receiving
letters from readers expressing their views and
comments, and/or suggestions on articles that
appear on the DOLE Good News. Letters should
be no more than a hundred words, and will be
judged based on clarity and impact. The best
letter will also be published in succeeding issues
of the DOLE Good News. Send your letters to:
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Labor Communications Office
6th Flr. DOLE Bldg. Muralla St.
Intramuros, Manila
or e-mail us at
dole_lco@yahoo.com
laborcommunications@gmail.com
October 2011
DOLE Good News
DOLE adds 60,246 to number
of self-employed with P222-M
worth of livelihood packages
A
total of 60,246 informal sector workers in the country
are now self-employed and earning after the Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Regional Offices, awarded a total of P222 million worth of livelihood
packages to 60,246 beneficiaries under the DOLE Integrated
Livelihood Program (DILP) since January 2011.
The DILP is the DOLE’s strategy in generating sustainable
local enterprises towards increased self-employment and productivity across the regions.
Citing a report from the regional offices, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the efforts of
the regions to implement the DILP in the grassroots solidifies
DOLE’s thrust to continuously provide ways to help disadvantaged workers move out from unemployment to productive jobs.
“Through the livelihood assistance, the DOLE is not just providing livelihood to the beneficiaries, but capacitating them to
efficiently utilize available resources towards developing incomegenerating and job-creating business undertakings in their localities,” Baldoz said.
“The DOLE is now going beyond livelihood formation in the
execution of livelihood programs and projects across all regions.
More than capacitating our beneficiaries financially, we are now
shifting gears towards sustainable employment creation and productivity in the regions,” she added.
Baldoz said the 60,246 individuals who were awarded P222
million in total livelihood assistance since January 2011 were
distributed in the regions as follows: NCR, 3,668 beneficiaries
with P26.2 million; CAR, 1,036 beneficiaries with P11.7 million; Region 1, 1,843 beneficiaries with P13.6 million; Region
2, 1,949 beneficiaries with P5.3 million; Region 3, 11,854 beneficiaries with P23.5 million; Region 4-A, 4,100 beneficiaries
with P18.2 million; Region 4-B, 1,901 beneficiaries with P9.5
million; and Region 5, 650 beneficiaries with P9 million; Region
6, 1,953 beneficiaries with P13.5 million; Region 7, 9,797 beneficiaries with P18 million; Region 8, 1,188 beneficiaries with
P12 million; Region 9, 1,188 beneficiaries with P11.9 million;
Region 10, 5.362 beneficiaries with P13 million; Region 11,
4.906 beneficiaries with P11 million; Region 12, 7,906 beneficiaries with P16.2 million; and CARAGA, 1,613 beneficiaries
with P9.7 million.
The beneficiaries have received their livelihood assistance in
the form of tools and equipment, complemented by training cum
production and skills training and upgrading to equip them in
pursuing their income-generating activities.
“Hundreds more will benefit as the DOLE continues to look
for ways to help our disadvantaged workers. We are providing
them opportunities to the route of livelihood rather than wage
employment to secure better lives for themselves and their families,” Baldoz said.
October 2011
TOWARDS INCREASED EMPLOYABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY. The
Department of Labor and Employment, through its Regional Offices, goes
full-swing in the implementation of its livelihood projects and financial
grants under the Community-Based Employment Program to help more
workers in the grassroots.
DOLE Good News
7,903 workers benefit from P26-M
assistance through DOLE’s
augmentation program
T
ranslating into action the thrust of improving the socio-economic
situation of low-income workers in organized and unorganized
establishments, the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) has granted a total of 26 million worth of livelihood assistance
to minimum wage earners and other low-income workers from January
to September 2011, under the Workers Income Augmentation Program
(WINAP).
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, citing
a consolidated report from the DOLE Regional Offices, said the WINAP
has provided assistance amounting to over P26 million to 7,903 workers
nationwide since the program’s implementation this year.
WINAP, which is also dubbed “Dagdag-Kabuhayan para sa mga
Manggagawa,” assists organized and unorganized workers in the formal
sector who opted to venture into businesses to provide them additional
sources of income and employment for their family members.
“Through the WINAP, the DOLE provides a mechanism to enhance
the income-earning capacities of workers in the formal economy. The
program is borne out of our conscious and proactive effort to help low
income workers in the formal sector find additional income sources to
augment their wages and subsequently raise their economic capability to
meet the needs of their families,” Baldoz said.
As of date, the labor and employment chief said the 16 regional offices
have awarded livelihood assistance to help low-waged workers in their
respective regions, which are distributed as follows: NCR, P6.3 million to
1,407 workers; CAR, P1.3 million to 259 workers; Region 1, P930,000
to 375 workers ; Region 3, 4.3 million to 1,075 workers; Region 4-A, P2
million to 200 workers; Region 4-B, P406,875 to 83 workers; Region 5, P3
million to 1,420 workers; Region 6, P1 million to 345 workers; Region 8,
P1 million to 215 workers; Region 9, P500,000 to 200 workers; Region 10,
P1 million to 341 workers; Region 11, P772,200 to 150 workers; Region 12,
P1.8 million to 433 workers; and CARAGA, P2 million to 1,400 workers.
Baldoz said the continuous implementation of the WINAP reflects
DOLE’s commitment to help our Filipino workers cope with the changing
times, saying the program aims not only to help, but to empower union
members though livelihood projects and entrepreneurial activities.
“Apart from the financial assistance, the union members were also
given seminars and orientation on business management to enable them
to run and sustain their livelihood enterprise. With the help of accredited
co-partners in implementing the program, WINAP enables workers to
gain and apply essential skills which capacitate them to collectively start
and manage a business,” Baldoz said.
The program also seeks the assistance of employers to finance and
provide mentoring, market access, and other resources necessary for the
operation of the workers’ business or livelihood activities.
Towards a holistic and extensive WINAP implementation in the
grassroots, Baldoz has instructed the regional offices to immediately
facilitate assistance to workers in need of livelihood assistance under
WINAP as she encouraged interested union and non-union members to
visit the nearest DOLE office to avail of the livelihood assistance.
October 2011
DOLE Good News
More than .5-M workers protected
as DOLE inspects 20, 876 companies
S
olidifying its mandate to pursue
an intensive inspection strategy to
ensure workers’ welfare through
compliance with general labor standards (GLS), the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE), through the
Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC)
and DOLE Regional Offices assured the
rights and protection of 502,546 workers
as 20,876 establishments and construction sites were inspected since January
2011.
Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the
DOLE’s extensive inspection in the regions reflects the Department’s efforts to
protect workers’ constitutional rights by
ensuring that local companies, establishments, and sites comply with core labor
standards.
“Correcting and improving workplace
conditions and maintaining a culture
of compliance with the GLS are highly
significant as we create and sustain an
atmosphere of industrial peace and
social justice in the country,” she said
in reference to President Benigno S.
Aquino’s III’s policy pronouncement on
labor and employment.
Citing a report from BWC Director
Brenda Villafuerte, Baldoz said the BWC,
in coordination with the DOLE Regional
Offices, conducted inspections in priority
establishments identified in the DOLE’s
October 2011
Project Labor Enforcement and Action
Program (LEAP). These companies are
security and manpower agencies; subcontractors, cooperatives; manufacturing
establishments; and restaurants/fastfood
enterprises.
“With the conduct of Project LEAP
this year, 19,502 establishments were inspected by the roster of 191 labor inspectors across all regions, which resulted in
plant level restitution amounting to P14,
322,382.43 from the 6,373 establishments
found with violations benefitting 11, 466
workers,” Baldoz said.
Violations on core labor standards include breaches on minimum wage, ECOLA, holiday pay, service incentive leave,
night shift differential, overtime and 13th
month pays.
The inspections also resulted in the
correction of violations and irregularities
on social welfare benefits, which include.
SSS, Pag-Ibig, and Phil-Health contributions.
In her report, Villafuerte said a total of
663 construction sites/projects involving
1,374 contractors and subcontractors employing 46,104 workers.
The regional inspectors have assessed
the enforcement of occupational safety
and health standards in on-going construction sites, which cover the implementation of BWC-approved Construction Safety and Health Program, presence
of safety and health personnel, and other
safety rules set forth under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
“With the upsurge of work-related accidents in construction projects, we are
not only ensuring GLS compliance in the
sites, but most importantly, the all-out
implementation of prescribed
corrective safety measures in all
construction workplaces and
projects to ensure workers’ safety
and protection against fatal incidents in this particular industry,”
Villafuerte said.
Towards an increased compliance
rate in 2011, Baldoz encourages
industries to pursue self-regulation
and to formulate voluntary codes
and best practices in the interest of
ensuring the welfare and protection
of workers.
“Industries should realize the
importance of sustaining labor
standards-compliant culture in
all workplaces, which is essential
not only in increasing the productivity of companies, but in
safeguarding workers ‘rights and
safety. Our workers’ wellbeing
should always come first,” Baldoz said.
DOLE Good News
L
abor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said
over the weekend that the adoption of a voluntary code of good practices by the hotel, restaurant and tourism
industry of the Province of Bataan will
definitely enhance compliance with general labor and occupational safety and
health standards, which will redound to
the welfare of workers, improve the productivity of enterprises, and contribute to
the promotion of industrial peace in the
province.
Apprised by DOLE Regional Office
No. 3 Director Leopoldo de Jesus of the
adoption of the voluntary code, Secretary Baldoz said:
“The hotel, restaurant and tourism
industry has been identified as one of
the industries poised to absorb the most
number of workers in the next several
years. The adoption by this industry of
its voluntary code of good practices will
hasten the realization of its potential as a
key employment generator.”
De Jesus reported that before
the adoption of the code, the
DOLE regional office has revitalized the Bataan Hotel, Restaurant
and Tourism Tripartite Council
(BHRT-TC) with the main purpose of providing employers and
workers in the sector a vehicle
to promote industry self-governance, workers’ welfare, and industrial peace.
The revitalization and establishment of industry tripartite coun-
Adoption of voluntary code of good practices
boosts Bataan tourism sector
cils and the adoption of voluntary codes
of good practices are key reform measures
of the DOLE aimed at weaning industries
away from too much dependence on government for regulation and intervention
industry-specific issues that industries
themselves, in cooperation with tripartite
partners, can easily address.
“This is the way forward for Bataan’s
hotel, restaurant and tourism sector. By
having a voluntary code of good practices, the industry is sending a signal to
other industries in the province on how
to improve workers’ welfare, promote
voluntary compliance with labor and
safety and health standards, enhance and
develop human resources, and ultimately,
ensure sustained business viability, productivity, and industrial peace towards
Bataan’s competitiveness,” Baldoz said.
On his part, de Jesus said the BHRTTC, through its voluntary code of good
practices, will perform self-assessment
and monitor compliance with the code’s
salient provisions on self-regulation and
with labor and safety and health standards; coordinate for training and education and recruitment and termination of
workers; dispute settlement; social dialogue; and productivity improvement.
Director de Jesus reported that during the reorganization of the BHRT-TC,
the following officials were elected and
sworn into office by DOLE assistant regional director Geraldine M. Panlilio:
Nely P. Punzalan, chairman; Sylvia
Tolentino, vice-chairman, management
sector; Geraldy Latayam, vice chairman, worker sector; Genalyn Morales,
treasurer; Jovelita Cuberos, secretary;
Baltazar Guanzon, auditor;
and Joey Borromeo, public relations officer. Jayon
Dilig, Jhune Cruz, Vivian
Cappal, and Krizelle Agbay
were named as municipal
coordinators.
In his remarks during
the brief oath-taking program for the newly-elected
BHRT-TC officials, Cesar
Cuayson, Bataan Provincial
Tourism Office head, said
the creation of the council
and its adoption of
a voluntary code
of good practices
will help the province in advocating
labor and employment
programs,
raise knowledge on
labor laws and social legislation, and
provide both worker
and management a
venue where they
DOLE Regional Office 3 Assistant Director Geraldine Panlilio (in pink shirt) leads the signing of
can discuss issues
the pact and oath-taking of the elected officials of the Bataan Hotel Restaurant and Tourism
and concerns arising
Tripartite Council (BHRT-TCV) at the Las Casa Filipinas de Azucar in Bagac, Bataan to boost
from employee-emtourism industry growth in Central Luzon.
ployer relationship.
October 2011
Local partnership brings quality,
skills-matched employment
down to the grassroots - Baldoz
C
ascading employment facilitation
services
towards
increased
employability in the grassroots,
Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz calls for full support and
strengthened partnership of the DOLE
Regional Offices with Local Government
Units (LGUs) in the nationwide
implementation of the Skills Registry
System (SRS) to ensure skills-matched
employment across all regions.
“Through the establishment of a nationwide SRS in cities and municipalities,
the DOLE, through its Bureau of Local
Employment (BLE),
promotes a cost-effective
employment
mechanism as we create not only a repository of ‘live’ registry of
skills, but also a hub of
relevant labor market
information so that
jobseekers who are
looking for opportunities will be aware of
the skills needed and
are available to satisfy
their local market demands,” Baldoz said.
“With the SRS providing the interplay of
manpower supply and
demand, more workers and jobseekers will realize the possible
work areas within their respective localities
and nearby areas, hence they can already
avoid spending for costly and distant job
applications,” she added.
The labor chief also called on the continuous involvement of LGUs and other
partner agencies to serve as ‘employment
agents’ not only in collaborating with the
Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) for the referral and placement of jobseekers, but also in the propagation of their
own local market information to guide students and jobseekers to avoid the perennial
problem of jobs and skills mismatch.
Baldoz issued the call after receiving a report from DOLE Region 8 Director Forter
Puguon, who said that the DOLE RO8
recently implemented the barangay-based
SRS in Southern Leyte to capture and update all workers’ skills and qualifications, as
well as the roster of establishments and vacancies in the province’s 500 barangays in
its 18 municipalities.
Puguon said the SRS-generated list will
serve as a vital component in the local labor
market as it bridges the employers who are
looking for qualified and skilled manpower,
and the jobseekers who are searching for
companies that require their skills.
“By bringing our employment services to
the barangays, employers will have a wider
base of workers who may have the skills
and
qualifications
they need,” Puguon
said, citing the case of
Gaisano Mall, whose
management closely
coordinated with the
provincial PESO for
the scouting and hiring
of qualified Leyteño
workers.
Puguon said the joint
efforts of Southern
Leyte LGU and PESO,
through PESO Manager
Norman Victor Ordiz,
yielded to the province’s
employment
project
of posting of two
employees for each
municipality,
with
Maasin City as the pilot area.
To intensify an all-out campaign against
jobs and skills mismatch, Puguon said the
SRS database and other relevant labor market information will also be introduced to
schools, colleges, and universities in the
province to guide students and future work
entrants on the hard-to-fill and in-demand
courses.
“Aside from sustaining productivity of
local employers and increasing employability of workers, the regional office will
partner with concerned agencies in using
the SRS as a tool to educate our future
workforce about labor market information and giving them the right signals
toward careers with high employability
after graduation,” Puguon said.
More women workers . . .
from page 1
carded doy packs into marketable merchandises, which provided income for
its members.
“We have considered KILUS Foundation as one outstanding community
enterprise development project in the
area as they reflect the DOLE’s goal of
harmonizing green sustainable goals
with anti-poverty agenda at the grassroots level. The group has provided
increased income and employability to
500 less fortunate women constituents
of Pasig City,” Agravante said.
Meanwhile, the P226, 000 financial
grant to MS2R, Inc., was used to purchase five (5) hi-speed sewing machines,
three (3) units of edging machines, (5)
tons of scrap fabric (retaso) and 100 kilos of thread to bolster the association’s
scrap fabric cloth recycling enterprise.
The organization provides alternative
income to twenty (20) women beneficiaries. The said scrap fabric-to-riches business self-employs 20 women members
who now earn more income opportunities and provide for other disadvantaged
workers in the area.
MS2R president Hemedina “Dina”
Calingacion expressed her thanks for
the assistance, saying the livelihood
package will help boost to the group’s
daily production and earnings
“Mula nang tinulungan kami ng DOLE,
kumikita na ang bawat isa sa amin ng
P500.00 pesos bawat araw. Isang malaking
tulong po ito para sa mga nanay na kailangan manatili sa bahay para masubaybayan
ang aming mga anak at sabay ang paghahanapbuhay para sa pangangailangan ng
pamilya,” Dina shared.
Hyping self-empowerment through
self-employment, Baldoz reiterated the
DOLE’s course of action in going beyond livelihood formation and training
in the implementation and awarding
of livelihood programs and projects to
various beneficiaries.
“More than capacitating our
beneficiaries financially, we are moving
forward in boosting sustainable
employment creation and productivity
in the regions as we continue to provide
equal and viable opportunities to
help and empower our disadvantaged
workers in the grassroots move out
from unemployment to productive jobs
within their reach,” Baldoz said.