In the regions, over 131,000 vacancies available during 2015 ...

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said more than 131,000 jobs will be available for job seekers in at least 10 regions in the country as the

DOLE regional offices mount their respective 2015 Kalayaan Day Job Fairs.

The 10 regional offices that have reported their Kalayaan Day Job fairs are those in the NCR, Cordillera Autonomous Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and SOCCSKSARGEN.

“These are more than half of the nationwide job fairs that will be conducted simultaneously as the country celebrates its 117th Araw ng Kalayaan,” said Baldoz.

She said said the Job Fairs serve as DOLE’s contribution to the meaningful observance of the Araw ng Kalayaan.

“These job vacan-cies will serve as the ticket to better lives and brighter future of numerous job seekers. Through this job fa-cilitation activities, we give profound mean-ing to the spirit of the Araw ng Kalayaan. Providing job oppor-tunities, thus, becomes a way of liberating the Filipinos from the clutches of poverty,” Baldoz said.

In the NCR alone, some 51,500 job va-cancies, courtesy of 93 employers, will be available in the Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fair at Rizal Park which will be spearheaded by DOLE-NCR Director Alex V. Avila.

In the Ilocos, Regional Director Grace Ursua announced that in La Union, at least 1,373 vacancies are available for jobseekers, while in Pangasinan, over 2,000 jobs will be up for grabs at the Manna Mall in San Fernando City and Nepo Mall in Dagupan City, respectively.

Director Ursua bared that 13 local employers and four li-censed recruitment agencies will join the June 12 job fairs in the region. The available local jobs in the Ilocos job fairs are for customer and technical service representatives, accountants and account analysts, managers, supervisors, marketing person-

In the regions, over 131,000 vacancies available during 2015 Kalayaan Day Job Fair

nel, hotel workers, engineers, electricians, cashiers, skilled and non-skilled workers and others. Among the top overseas jobs are teachers, nurses and allied professions, technicians, plumb-ers, architects, engineers, welders, carpenters, painters and other skilled positions.

In the Cordillera, 1,196 local jobs will be offered to jobseek-ers in the Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fair at the University of the Cordilleras.

DOLE CAR Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena dis-closed that top job vacancies are for customer service repre-sentatives, call center agents, technical support representatives, cashiers, merchandisers, baggers, real estate consultants, sales clerks, porters/delivery helpers, and stock clerks.

In Cagayan Valley, the job fair will be held at the 3rd floor, Mall of the Valley in Tuguegarao, Cagayan in partnership with the local government unit of Tuguegarao City, said Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr., who bared that 845 vacan-cies will be offered by 33 participating estab-lishments, while 450 overseas employment vacancies will be of-fered by seven par-ticipating recruitment agencies.

In Central Luzon Region, some 15,945 jobs await jobseekers in the Independence Day Job and Liveli-

hood Fairs to be held in Bulacan and in Zambales on 12 and 18 June, respectively, DOLE Regional Director Atty. Ana Dione re-ported. She said that of the total job vacancies solicited, around 10,945 will be available for local employment from 92 participat-ing companies from various industries. The regional office ex-pects around 5,000 job vacancies for overseas employment from 30 recruitment agencies, as processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Job vacancies in Central Luzon for local employment include production engineering associates, production operators, cus-

DOLE Undersecretaries Ciriaco Lagunzad III, Ma. Gloria Tango, and Reydeluz Conferido, along with officials of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), cut the ceremonial ribbon signalling the opening of the DOLE’s 2015 Independence Day Job Fair at the Rizal Park. Looking on are other officials and members of the FFCCCII and the DOLE.

Turn to page 7

DOLE Good News

2 June 2015

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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 527-3000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at [email protected] or [email protected].

EditorNICON F. FAMERONAG

Director, LCO

Associate EditorCATHERINE MARIE E. VILLAFLORES

Staff WritersGERRY S. RUBIO

CELESTE T. MARINGHAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY

ALTHEA LOUISE D. MAJANMA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

JULIENNE FORTUNATO - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ROSEMARIE CAMPOS - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

LUCHEL TANIZA - Region 7

MELDY TABANAO - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

SHERWIN B. MANUAL - Region 11

MICHELLE T. OLOG - Region 12

IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga

DOLEGood News

VERSEAS CORNER

Two months after the government of Oman announced a three-month Amnesty Program for

illegal foreign workers in the Sultan-ate, Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) reported the successful appli-cation for amnesty and repatriation of 64 OFWs to the Philippines on 27 May 2015 via Oman Air. The second batch of 40 successful amnesty applicants are scheduled for repatriation on 10 June 2015.

In his report to Labor and Employ-ment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, the two batches were from the 193 Filipinos who applied for amnesty with the Sultanate through the POLO. Included in this total are wards housed at the Migrant Workers and Other Over-seas Filipinos (MWOFRCs). Oman Air is generously assisting the POLO in the flight booking at a very reasonable air-fare purchased by the POLO, the repatri-ates or from donations by individuals.

One of the wards repatriated in the first batch is an OFW who is a victim of human trafficking rescued by the POLO from the Muscat International Airport during her transit to Dubai to work as a household service worker. Her case was already forwarded to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for investigation, and for pos-sible charging of case against her re-cruiter.

64 OFWs repatriated under Oman Amnesty Program; second batch of 40 scheduled this month

Prior to departure, the repatriates are given a short briefing by the POLO on what to do and what to expect upon their arrival at the NAIA. They were in-formed of the Assist WELL package of the DOLE, a comprehensive reintegra-tion assistance to ensure that returning OFWs who voluntarily sign up for repa-triation are successfully reintegrated in the mainstream of Philippine society.

The repatriates were delighted to hear about the program and are looking for-ward to reuniting with their loved ones back in the Philippines, with the hope of starting anew through the assistance provided them by the Philippine gov-ernment.

“Many of our OFWs are hesitant to sign up for amnesty for fear of not be-ing able to find work in the Philippines. Through the Assist WELL program, we assured them that after repatriation, they will be given employment assis-tance through job placement/referral for local or overseas employment. They

can also avail of the livelihood assis-tance provided under this program,” Mustafa said.

“OFWs are also informed of the air-port assistance provided by the OWWA upon arrival. They will be provided temporary shelter and accommodation for those who have no place to stay un-til they get home to their respective re-gions, transport assistance to residence, emergency medical assistance and stress debriefing,” Mustafa added.

Among the livelihood assistance pro-vided under the Assist WELL program are: the 2-B Reintegration Loan Fund for OWWA members; Balik-Pinay, Ba-lik-Hanapbuhay for distressed OFWs; and the 10-K Livelihood Assistance for non-documented workers.For more in-formation about these programs, inter-ested OFWs and their families may visit the nearest POLO or NRCO website: http://nrco.dole.gov.ph/. OFWs in the Philippines or their family members may also visit/call the nearest DOLE regional office for inquiries.

“We are optimistic that more illegal-ly-staying OFWs will volunteer to sign up for repatriation rather than face the sanctions of continuing their illegal status in Oman. We will continue to let more OFWs know about these pro-grams that they may avail of so that they can return to their families in the Philippines for good,” Mustafa ended. (Charmaine Mae A. Morallos)

DOLE Good News

3June 2015

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz announced the holding of a

business plan competition for returning seafarers, a project led by the National Reintegration Center for Returning OFWs (NRCO) to encourage social entrepreneurship and eventually support the growth of jobs in hometowns and communities.

Citing a report of NRCO Director Chona M. Mantilla, Secretary Baldoz said the nationwide competition, dubbed, “From Seafarers to Entrepreneurs: The 2015 NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition (Harnessing Seafarers’ Capacities for Business Enterprise Development),” will start accepting entries on 26 June 2015 and until 30 August 2015.

“This competition is DOLE’s innovative way of promoting sustainable livelihood and micro-enterprise by harnessing the earnings and savings of overseas Filipinos, especially our seafarers, as one source of capital for economic development. This is one of the thrusts in the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, and in the 2011-2016 Labor and Employment Plan where the promotion of productive investment and entrepreneurship is highly encouraged among OFWs,” said Baldoz.

She added that the event is one strategic reintegration program of the DOLE to assist OFWs in securing the future of their families by capacitating them in carefully investing their hard-earned finances.

The NRCO, a new agency under the DOLE, is implementing the project in partnership with the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines, or ISP. It will be officially launched in a media event on 26 June 2015 at the 12th Floor of Jemarson Place Building, 1626 P. Hidalgo Lim Street, Malate, Manila.

Director Mantilla said that the awarding ceremony for the business competition will be on 4 December 2015. The Top 10 winners will receive

Baldoz announces business plan competition for returning OFW seafarers

incentives and other consolation prizes, and the grand winner will get P500,000 cash prize, all to be put up by the ISP. The details of the competition will be announced during the media launching and will be posted at www.nrco.dole.gov. ph.

Mantilla said the business competition is covered by a memorandum of agreement that she had signed with ISP President Capt. Gaudencio Morales and witnessed by the NRCO Program Coordination and Monitoring Division Chief Melvin Caseda; Policy and Program Development Division OIC-Chief Dennis Cabato; ISP Agribusiness Director Capt. Danny Ricohermoso, ISP Secretary Princess Camille Castillo.

The Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines is a non-stock and non-profit organization formed and

established for the welfare of Filipino seafarers and their families.

“The ISP aims to create avenues where the seafarers’ families can improve their lives while the seafarers are on active duty; and to provide ways for their easier social reintegration after the culmination of their overseas jobs,” said Capt. Morales during the signing of the MOA.

The NRCO, on the other hand, is mandated to develop, promote and implement a national agenda on sustainable return and reintegration to address the multi-faceted reintegration needs of returning Overseas Filipino Workers and their families, including the development of their hometowns and/or communities.

“The primary clientele of the NRCO are returning OFWs who are classified as undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers; displaced, distressed and repatriated OFWs; returning OFWs or OFWs who return to the Philippines on a temporary basis with the intention of going back abroad; OFW returnees or OFWs who return to the Philippines with the intention to stay in the country on a permanent basis; and families of returning OFWs,” Mantilla explained. (GSRubio)

4 June 2015

DOLE Good News

Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport

Authority Chairman Christopher Lawrence S. Arnuco the other day jointly expressed gratitude to Labor and Employment Secretary Baldoz for declaring Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport Authority as a Labor Laws-Compliant economic zone, the 12th such to be declared, saying the move will put Zamboanga City at the focus of local and foreign investors.

“We are deeply gratified about this recognition. It will definitely enhance Zamboanga City’s image as an investment haven and this will be beneficial to our job seekers,” said Mayor Climaco-Salazar and Chairman Arnuco who both joined Secretary Baldoz in unveiling the labor laws-compliant marker at the gate of the zone in Brgy. San Ramon in the outskirts of the city.

Before the unveiling, Baldoz led in the awarding of Certificates of Compliance on General Labor Standards (GLS) and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) to six ecozone locators, namely, Artnature Philippines, Inc.; Mi Casita Company, Inc.; AML Fastfood, Inc.; Seachamp International; CTK Asia Rubber Corporation; and San Miguel Foods, Inc. which have a combined 236 workers.

Likewise, Baldoz awarded COCs on General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health to the locators’ service providers, namely,

Helping Hands Development Cooperative; Leadership Manpower Services; Gabmar Manpower Agency, Inc.; Ascent Feed Specialist, Inc. whose total combined employment reaches 682 workers.

Another company outside the zone, Big Fish Food Corporation, with a total of 521 workers also received a CoC on GLS and OSH from Baldoz during the program.

She also handed out COC on Labor Relations (LR) to the Katipunan Bank, Inc. based in Dipolog, together with its four branches; Prudential Customs Brokerage Services, Inc.; Saint Vincent’s College; Rural Bank of Rizal; and Century Pacific Food Corporation, all of which provide employment to 1,044 workers; and awarded Tripartite Certificates of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS) and Child Labor Free Establishment (CLFE) Certificates to the Katipunan Bank, Inc. and its four service providers; Montano Foods Corporation and its service provider; Montano Construction and Development Corporation and its service provider; Goldstar Seafoods Corporation and its three service providers; and Big Fish Corporation. Together, these companies and their service providers employ 1,686 workers.

Also during the award ceremony, Secretary Baldoz recognized and awarded plaques to six regional nominees for the National Wages and Productivity Commission’s 2015 Productivity

Olympics. These companies are Myler Agribusiness; Sungate Pawnshop; Dennis Hardware; Montano Foods Corporation; Katipunan Bank; and Rural Bank of Rizal. These regional nominees will undergo evaluation in July and the winner will qualify to vie for the national award this October.

For the first time in Western Mindanao, Secretary Baldoz expounded on the first-year accomplishments of the LLCS, a flagship reform program of the DOLE, and informed her audience about the developmental aspects of the reform.

“Alam po ninyo, ang LLCS ay isa sa mga reporma na itinakda ng ating Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III. May utos po siya sa DOLE na siguraduhing naipatutupad ang lahat ng batas paggawa; gawing madali para sa mga negosyo ang tuparin ang mga ito; at siguraduhin na hindi pabigat o hadlang ang pagtupad sa mga batas paggawa sa pagne-negosyo upang lalong makalikha ng de-kalidad na trabaho,” she said.

“Dati po, minsan lamang kada ika-16 na taon nabibisita o nai-inspeksyon ang mga kumpanya kung tumutupad sa mga batas paggawa. Sa bago pong sistema, kada ika-2 taon na po ang joint assessment sa bawat kumpanya na isasagawa ng kabuuang 574 LLCOs. Sa dati pong sistema, 23 lamang ang batas paggawa na naipatutupad; ngayon po, ipinatutupad na ang 94 na batas na sakop ng Labor Code. Maliban sa pasahod, overtime pay, holiday pay, at iba pang monetary benefits, ang lahat ng decent work indicators, batas para sa mga marino (MLC, 2006), batas para sa mga contractors (DOLE DO18-A), alituntunin para sa kaligtasan at kalusugan ng mga manggagawa sa lugar ng trabaho (OSHS), mga regulasyon para sa mga recruiter ng OFWs at pagbabayad ng premium sa SSS, PhilHealth, at Pag-Ibig ay sakop na ng LLCS,” she related.

“We have even changed the job title of labor inspectors. Ngayon po ay Labor Laws Compliance Officers (LLCOs) na ang noon ay tinatawag na Labor Inspectors ng DOLE,” she enthused.

Baldoz said that in the last decade, only about 24,000 establishments were inspected annually, compared to the 76,880 establishments that have been assessed in 2014, the first year of the LLCS. On compliance, she reported:

“Dati po, umaabot lang sa 65 percent ang compliance rate sa GLS; sa bagong sistema tumaas ito sa 76.61 percent, kung saan

Baldoz unveils 12th labor laws-compliant zone marker at Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport Authority

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (3rd from left) led in the awarding of Certificates of Compliance on General Labor Standards) and Occupational Safety and Health to six ecozone locators, namely, Artnature Philippines, Inc.; Mi Casita Company, Inc.; AML Fastfood, Inc.; Seachamp International; CTK Asia Rubber Corporation; and San Miguel Foods, Inc. Turn to page 5

DOLE Good News

5June 2015

DOLE Good News

pinakamataas ang compliance rate sa mga batas ukol sa premium pay for rest day, night shift differential, weekly rest period, child labor law, at separation pay (95-99 percent). Sumunod dito ang compliance sa PhilHealth, SSS, holiday pay, 13th month pay, at overtime pay (90-94 percent). Umabot naman sa 86-89 percent ang compliance sa PAG-IBIG at minimum wage,” she further narrated.

“Kung noon ay hirap makapasok sa kumpanya ang mga inspector ng DOLE dahil sa kanilang police mentality, ngayon napakalaking bilang na ng mga kumpanya ang bukas ang pinto na tinatanggap ang LLCOs dahil ipinapaliwanag sa kanila, at tinutulungan sila ng mga ito, kung paano maging compliant sa pamamagitan ng libreng tulong ng DOLE,” she added.

She also emphasized that the DOLE has clarified the rules on sub-contracting, resulting to the levelling of the playing field for establishments allowed to engage in sub-contracting business.

“Noon po, naglipana ang fly-by-night contractors na kahit walang sapat na kapital at kagamitan ay nakakapagnegosyo. Ngayon, dahil sa reporma ng D.O. 18-A at LLCS nawala ang malaking bilang ng 18,000

contractors, at ngayon ay 4,975 na lang ang rehistrado sa DOLE at itinuturing natin na lehitimo.”

“Kung noon ay nagagamit ang apprenticeship, seasonal employment, “5-5-5”, at “endo” practices ng mga principal employers at contractors upang iwasan ang regularization ng employment, sa bagong sistema ay nakikipagtulungan ang kumpanya at contractors sa pagbuo at pagpapatupad ng corrective plan of action para baguhin at itama ang maling patakaran, at bayaran ang anumang benepisyo ng apektadong manggagawa. Nitong nakaraang taon, P173,376,776.81 halaga ng benepisyo ang tinanggap ng 207,307 na manggagawa matapos ang pagtatama ng mga kakulangan sa pasahod at iba pang benepisyo,” she proudly stated.

She cited the case of the fishing and fish canning industry in Western Mindanao, where she said four large fishing and canning companies, namely, Aquatic Food Manufacturing Corporation, Permex Producer and Exporter Corporation, Ayala Seafoods Corporation, and Universal Canning Corporation, converted 1,184 apprentices into seasonal regular workers after the joint assessment under the LLCS. She urged other similar companies to follow their examples, saying it is good for business to comply

with all labor laws and occupational safety and health standards.

Engr. Eduardo Rivero, Jr., President, Zamboanga Peninsula OSHNet; Engr. George G. Ledesma, Vice Chairman for Management, Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council; Jose J. Suan, Vice Chairman for Labor, Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council joined Secretary Baldoz during the marker’s unveiling, together with Sisinio Cano, DOLE Regional Office No. 9 Regional Director and his assistant regional director Yahya Centi; regional heads of the member-agencies of the DOLE Regional Coordinating Council; and the locators of the zone.

The Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport Authority is the 12th ecozone, and the second in Mindanao, to have a labor laws compliant marker. The 11 others are (1) Hacienda Luisita Industrial Park; (2) Phividec Industrial Park; (3) Mactan Export Processing Zone II; (4) Cebu Light Industrial Park; (5) Baguio Economic Zone; (6) Cagayan Economic Zone; (7) Freeport Area of Bataan; (8) PAFC Petrochemical Industrial Park; (9) Hermosa Industrial Park; (10) TIPCO Estate Corporation Special Economic Zone; and (11) Angeles Industrial Park, Inc. (JOEY BAUTISTA)

Baldoz unveils . . . (from page 4)

In Bulacan, 2 former OFWs reap fruits from NRCO’s livelihood assistance

CITY OF MALOLOS – Two for-mer OFWs from Bulacan are now budding entrepreneurs thanks to

the National Center for Reintegration for OFWs (NRCO) P10-K livelihood assistance program.

Seafarer Eduardo Lumidao and automo-tive painter Joseph Sumagui, are just two of the thousands of returning OFWs who want to start life anew in the Philippines.

An OFW for 23 years, Lumidao traversed the strong gusty winds and waves of the ocean as a seafarer in search for greener pastures.

“Mahirap yung mawalay sa pamilya, mahirap ang trabaho sa karagatan. Kailangang magsakrip-isyo para sa aking pamilya,” Lumidao shared.

In 2013, Lumidao faced a great challenge when he was diagnosed of spondylosis, a condition which no longer made him fit for work as a seafarer.

“Sa di inaasahang kasamaang karamdaman, napilitan po akong bumalik sa Pilipinas na wa-lang kasiguraduhang kinabukasang maibibigay sa aking pamilya,” Lumidao said.

Meanwhile, Sumagui, who was a painter for several years in an automotive company in the United Arab Emirates, was untimely displaced from work due to recession.

“Sobrang lungkot at panghihinayang po na mawalan ako ng trabaho dito sa UAE dahil ito po ang bumubuhay sa aking pamilya. Hindi ko po inaasahang mangyayari po ito sa akin,” Su-magui said.

When news on the NRCO’s P10,000 liveli-hood assistance program came about, Lumi-dao and Sumagui, who were qualified for the program, wasted no time to avail for it.

Lumidao, though jobless, was able to use his earnings abroad to put up a small computer shop to help sustain his family’s needs.

“Noong malaman ko po na mayroong P10,000 na livelihood assistance ang OWWA, na ngayon

po ay ang NRCO na ang nangangasiwa, hindi na po ako nag-dalawang-isip dahil alam ko po na magagamit ko itong karagdagang kapital sa aking maliit na negosyo,” Lumidao said.

From the amount he received last year, he was able to purchase additional units and equipment such as LCDs and printers for his computers shop.

Sumagui, meanwhile, used the liveli-hood assistance he received in purchasing a welding machine, welding rods, and other equipment used in the construction of metal works.

“Sabi ko po sa sarili ko, kung ano man pong tulong ang ipagkakaloob sa akin ng gobyerno, ito po ay aking pagyayamanin dahil alam ko po na may patutunguhan po ito,” Sumagui said.

Lumidao now runs his computer shop with daughter, Jem Elaiza, a visual graph-ics design graduate and beneficiary of the OWWA’s Skills for Employment Scholarship Program.

“Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa liveli-hood assistance na ipinagkaloob sa akin ng OWWA at ng NRCO. Sana po, matulungan din ninyo ang iba pang kapwa ko OFW returnees na nais manirahang muli sa Pilipinas kapiling ang kanilang mga pamilya. Gayun din ang aking pagpapasalamat sa OWWA dahil ang anak ko po ay isa sa mga beneficiaries ng skills training program nila,” Lumidao said.

Lumibao’s computer shop, which since then has expanded to various computer ser-vices, is now a formidable small business which can already sustain his family’s needs.

Sumagui, on the other hand, is now suc-cessfully operating his low-cost fine metal works business, which is already well-known within his community.

From his earnings both here and abroad, he was able to build his own house and pur-chase a tricycle which he uses for work.

“Isang malaking hamon ang pagtratrabaho sa abroad. Malayo ka sa pamilya mo, hindi mo pa alam ang ugali ng mga kasama mo. Kaya po ako, naging puhunan ko noon ang lakas ng loob at pakikisama sa aking amo at mga kasamahan sa trabaho. Inalis ko rin po ang bisyo at patuloy na nangangarap para sa aking pamilya,” Sumagui finally said. (Jerry Borja with reporting from Freya Palad)

FORMER OFWS. Eduardo Lumidao, top, tends to his computer shop while Joseph Sumagui manages his own metal works business, all through NRCO’s livelihood assistance program.

DOLE Good News

6 June 2015

The DOLE Regional Office No. X, through its OIC-Asst. Regional Director Albert E. Gutib and Bukidnon Provincial Field Office Head Raul L. Valmores, led the turnover of P

8 million DOLE- Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) livelihood assistance which coincided with the launching of the DOLE Job Search Kiosk during the LGU’s Monday Convocation Activity on 15 June 2015 in the city.

The activity was attended by Valencia City Mayor Azucena P. Huervas and members of the SangguniangPanglungsod, LGU personnel, Civic Society Organizations’ representatives and project beneficiaries. LGU-Valencia City is one of the recipients of the Job Search information kiosk in the province of Bukidnon together with LGU-Malaybalay City.

In his message, ARD Gutib emphasized the essential coordination, commitment, and support of the LGU, partner-agencies and beneficiaries to ensure sustainability of the projects saying, “Success of any livelihood undertaking can only be achieved through genuine partnership and cooperation among sectors involved in the implementation of projects.”

The projects include Food & Meat Processing, High-Value Vegetables & Spices Trading and Marketing, Tarpaulin/ T-Shirt Printing, Rice Trading, and Starter Kit Projects benefitting some 940 direct beneficiaries and their families from twelve (12) associations based in Valencia City who belong to the poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged sector as identified by the LGU through its Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT).

“These livelihood projects will not only provide greater opportunities for income augmentation and also open avenues for honing their skills and capabilities as future entrepreneurs,” Mayor Huervas stressed in her message to the beneficiaries. “There is, however, a need to constantly remind them that positive work values and putting first the common interest of others rather than that of self is one of the key factors in sustaining any group endeavor,” she added.

Meanwhile, the unveiling and installation of the Job Search Kiosk in the lobby of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of LGU-Valencia City is envisioned to enhanced job seekers’ look for jobs and access to basic and relevant information regarding job recruiters, employers, and government employment programs.

DOLE-X Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante disclosed, “The DOLE Job Search Kiosk is an information-provider, internet-based equipment which provide information on labor market and livelihood opportunities which is also linked with databases of companies/establishments, POEA, OWWA, DOLE, DepEd, CHED, TESDA and PRC, among other agencies.” (Archibald S. Batica/DOLE-X/Bukidnon PFO)

DOLE-Bukidnon launches Job Search Kiosk, turnovers P8-M Bottom Up Budgetinglivelihood assistance to LGU-Valencia

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz commended the DOLE Regional Office No. 7 for declaring six more child labor-free (CLF) barangays

in Negros Oriental, in addition to the two barangays previously declared as CL-free last year.

“The efforts emanating from the grassroots level must be sustained, because the assurance what we will be ultimately a child labor-free country rests in the local government units. They are among the front liners in observing R.A. 9231 which mandates for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and in giving protection to working children,” said Baldoz.

DOLE Regional Office No. 7 OIC Director Ezequiel R. Sarcauga led the awarding of Child Labor-Free Barangay certificates which highlighted the celebration of the 13th World Day against Child Labor in Dumaguete City.

The six new CL-free barangays are Poblacion, Santa Catalina; Taboan, Bayawan City; Napakaw, Siaton; Pal-ew, Tanjay City; Abis, Mabinay; and Alanginlanan, Manjuyod.

Before a crowd of Negrenses, Director Sarcauga espoused the advocacy against child labor which has been the DOLE’s consistent campaign. “Child labor is a world problem. We at the DOLE have been consistently carrying out several programs to address this global dilemma,” he said, adding that reality hurts when children have to endure child labor because of poverty.

In Region 7, Sarcauga said, around 219,000 have been identified as child laborers.

“We, in the government, envision for our children to aspire for a better life through good education,” Sarcauga said in support to the celebration’s international theme, “No to Child Labor, Yes to Quality Education.”

Under the Batang Malaya campaign in line with the Philippine Program against Child Labor and the country’s vision for a child labor-free Philippines, the DOLE is committed to turn every barangay in the country with high prevalence of child labor into a child labor-free barangay.

Director Sarcauga said that at the barangay level, the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children has been established to uphold the wellbeing of the children and save them from harm.

Spearheaded by the DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office (NOFO), the World Day Against Child Labor Celebration in Region 7 was conducted through the concerted efforts of its social partners and stakeholders comprised of Childfund Philippines; World Vision; Visayan Forum; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Samahan at Ugnayanng Manggagawang Pantahanan, Inc.; Philippine Information Agency; Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office-Negros Oriental; City Social Welfare and Development Office-Dumaguete; Public Employment and Service Office-Dumaguete; DepEd; Foundation University; Department of Social Welfare and Development; Cuttin’ Loose; Dumaguete Christian Technical Center; and the Local Government Units of Bayawan City, Santa Catalina, Siaton, Zamboangita, Tanjay, Mabinay, Manjuyod, and Dumaguete City.

Other activities parallel to the celebration were skills training; team building; university course exposure of high school participants at Foundation University; project angel tree; giving of free haircuts; and Eco-kalan cooking demonstrations.

The DOLE-NOFO oriented the participants on the Rights of the Filipino child putting emphasis on the DOLE’s programs and services which aim to uphold the welfare of the children. The stakeholders were also given a seminar on financial literacy seminar, especially on creating, managing, and growing money, said NOFO Officer-in-Charge Ma. Teresa D. Tanquiamco. (LSTaniza with reporting from Bless M. De Padua of NOFO)

Baldoz commends six newly declared child labor-free barangays in Region 7

DOLE-10 ARD Albert Gutib (2nd from left) shakes hands with Malaybalay City Vice Mayor Ronald Detecio during the unveiling and installation of a DOLE Job Search kiosk at the PESO-Valencia lobby. Looking on (L-R) are Regional Staistician Bernie Salinas; Malaybalay City PESO Manager Herculiano Ronulo; DOLE-Bukidnon Provincial Head Raul Valmores; and DOLE Supervising LEO Arlyn Bael.

DOLE Good News

7June 2015

tomer/technical support representatives, inbound sales representatives, call center agents, welders, sewers, medical transcrip-tionists, sales clerks, office clerks, machine operators, and service workers.

Overseas employment vacancies, on the other hand include production workers, engineers, architects, administrative assis-tants, cooks, waiters, waitresses, construc-tion workers, and plumbers.

The DOLE in Western Visayas will of-fer around 14,642 local and overseas jobs in job fairs to be held at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, Iloilo, and at the activity center of The District North Point-Ayala Mall in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Regional Director Ponciano M. Ligu-tom said that aside from the job fairs, the members of the DOLE-Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) will set up help desks in the job fair venues to ex-tend assistance to employers and employees as well as the kasam-bahays who have labor-related concerns.

In Iloilo, around 8,235 vacan-cies will be made available by 29 participating local companies and overseas recruitment agen-cies, while in Negros Occiden-tal, about 6,407 vacancies were declared by 32 local companies and overseas recruitment agen-cies.

For local jobs, the cyber ser-vices, or the business process outsourcing sector, remain the top employ-ment generator in Region 6 with 1,438 or 35 per cent of the total vacancies followed by construction industry with 1,220, or 30 per cent of the total vacancies posted. The remaining 1,369 are being shared by vari-ous companies in the service sector.

On the other hand, for overseas jobs, around 50 per cent of the total vacancies posted are in social and personal services followed by construction industry as well as hotels and restaurants, health, and edu-cation service sector.

In Central Visayas, meanwhile, employ-ers both local and abroad will present a big number of job vacancies, totaling initially to 16,953, and which will be available to participating job seekers in the Kalayaan Day Job Fair in Cebu City Sports Center.

According to Regional Director Ex-equiel R. Sarcauga, jobseekers can choose from an array of job vacancies from 64 par-ticipating companies, 54 of which are local and 10 are overseas-based.

“There are 5,054 local job vacancies reg-istered and 11,899 overseas job vacancies awaiting the jobseekers,” Sarcauga added.

The DOLE Central Visayas has also iden-tified top positions needed overseas which are as follows: factory workers; hotel and restaurant service crew; laborers; carpen-ters; nurses; pipefitters; electricians; weld-ers; steel fabricators; construction workers; scaffolders; plumbers; drivers; engineers; mason helpers; steel fixers; programmers; riggers; and mill wright fitters.

Meanwhile, in Northern Mindanao, Re-gional Director Raymundo Agravante said that 15 local companies and 12 overseas manpower agencies have confirmed their participation in their Kalayaan Job Fair at Iligan City Public Plaza, with around 150

available locally-based jobs such as engi-neers, supervisors, quality control analyst, safety officers, service crew, clerks, teach-ers, accountants, and call center represen-tatives.

From the licensed overseas agencies, job vacancies include 600 openings for factory workers, medical and paramedical work-ers, construction workers (skilled and semi- skilled), hotel and restaurant workers, teachers, and domestic helpers, to name a few.

The turn- over of Job Search Kiosks, to be led by Director Agravante, to the local government unit of Iligan City through acting City Mayor Ruderic C. Marzo, and the Committee Chairman on Labor and Employment and acting Vice Mayor Attor-ney Providencio A. Abragan Jr., will also highlight the DOLE Northern Mindanao Kalayaan Job Fair.

In Davao, Regional Director Joffrey M. Suyao said the regional office is conducting its Kalayaan Jobs Fair at the NCCC Mall

in Matina, Davao City, where a total of 15,755 job vacancies from the 79 participat-ing employers will be available to interested applicants.

The top jobs in Davao for overseas em-ployment are nurses, salesmen for food and non-food establishments, customer service, security guards, factory workers, sales as-sociates, masons, elderly care attendant, carpenters, and manicurists.

For local employment, the leading job vacancies are the call center agents, cus-tomer service representatives, technical support representatives, sales personnel, cable linemen/ splicers, sales consultants, drivers/installers, operations supervisors, marketing officers, and helpers.

In Region 12, DOLE Regional Director

Ofelia Domingo said she expects to have at least 3,000 job applicants trooping to their Kalayaan Day Job Fair at the SM City General Santos Trade Hall.

DOLE General Santos City Field Of-fice Head Fatima Bataga said 100 local and overseas employers are prepared to participate during the job fair.

Overall, the DOLE Region 12 expects to have around 10,000 available job vacan-cies during their scheduled job fairs.

An Industry Tripartite Council (ITC) Academe Forum will also be simultane-ously done at the SM City General Santos Trade Hall which aims to address the is-sues on job mismatch through continual dialogue with the industry- academe sec-tor as well as with parents and students in keeping the academic programs respon-sive to the needs of different industries. (GSR/ALDM/HJTG with reports from J. Fortunato, A. Valdez, R. Estioco, J. Borja, A. Judicpa, L. Taniza, SB Manual, K. Turnos, JNJ Fabrega)

2015 Kalayaan Day Job Fair . . . (from page 1)

Part of the crowd of jobseekers at the 2015 Kalayaan Job Fair in Rizal Park.

The Department of Labor and Employment’s Call Center has helped an intern and a researcher/production assistant of the ABS-CBN’s Lingkod

Kapamilya program at DZMM Teleradyo gather information and gain understanding on the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) leading to its airing in the weekly program ‘Kapamilya Konek.’

With this service mileage, the DOLE Call Center received a pat on the back in the form of a commendation letter from Bryan Acupan, intern, and Luci Maligaso, researcher, of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc.

“The [DOLE Call Center] agent gave the right information. She also provided assistance and the necessary telephone number which had led to the appropriate resource person who became our guest for the radio show “Kapamilya Konek,” Acupan said in his letter.

The commendation arose from the DOLE Call Center’s response to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya which sought assistance on whom to interview with regards the DOLE’s Special Program for the Employment of Students.

Acupan talked to Cynthia Miranda, DOLE Call Center action officer, and asked data on SPES, such as jobs being offered by the program, and the number of beneficiaries.

The DOLE Call Center referred Acupan to the office of Director Nicon F. Fameronag, the DOLE Spokesperson and head of the DOLE Labor Communications Office.

Subsequently, ABS-CBN sought Dir. Fameronag as the resource person of the program.

The information provided by Director Fameronag became the feature in the show when the Kapamilya Konek discussed the topic Payong Kapamilya: Extra Baon Ngayong Bakasyon.

Kapamilya Konek presented the SPES or Special Program for Employment of the Students, as one of the most popular programs of the DOLE which give students and out-of-school youth opportunities to earn income to support their school needs.

Apart from the Teleradyo, the Kapamilya Konek also disseminated in its social media page the benefits of SPES to Filipino families.

“Ayon kay DOLE Labor Communication Office Director Nicon Fameronag, ang SPES ay programang nagbibigay hindi lamang ng trabaho kundi trabahong may sweldo. Ang sweldo ay minimum wage ng rehiyon kung saan ka nagtatrabaho. Ang 40% ng sweldo ay ibibigay ng DOLE na pambayad sa matrikula o education voucher kung tawagin, habang 60% nito ay cash na ibibigay ng participating organization o ng iyong sponsor. Mayroong minimum na 20 working days at maximum na 52 working days. Sigurado rin ang iyong social security insurance at certificate of employment kapag natapos mo ang naturang programa. Higit na makakatulong din ito dahil magkakaroon ka

ABS-CBN’s Lingkod Kapamilya commends DOLE Call Center for providing info on SPES to teleradyo audience

na ng ideya at mga karanasan pagdating mo sa pormal na labor market,” the teleradyo show informed the public.

To know more about the SPES Program, Kapamilya Konek also encouraged its viewers to visit the official website of DOLE, www.dole.gov.ph, and click BLE or Bureau of Local Employment, which takes charge of the DOLE SPES program, or call the DOLE hotline at 527-8000 from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. or visit the nearest Public Employment Service Office.

Kapamilya Konek is a public service program that aims to link government agencies, organizations, and experts to provide solutions to issues and problems faced by Filipino families. (Vheng R. Almazora)

The DOLE Call Center, the public’s gateway on labor and employment queries, is manned by a devoted and efficient staff supervised by Ma. Veronica Almazora (upper left) who are ready to help and assist callers. Shown from right is Luz Rosas; Cynthia Miranda; and Petronilo Bautista busy tending to calls from clients.