DOLE distributes starter kits to 5 Yolanda-hit towns

CEBU, Philippines- As part of its programs to help Yolanda-affected residents in Cebu, the Department of Labor and Employment-7 distributed over 400 starter kits to the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration-7 which were also handed over to residents of five towns in the province.

The five out of 16 Yolanda-affected towns in Cebu that benefited from the project include the municipality of Sogod and all four towns of Camotes Island: Poro, Tudela, San Francisco, and Pilar.

The beneficiaries received kits for carpentry, masonry, plumbing and electrical.

For this initiative, DOLE-7 acting regional director Exequiel Sarcauga said that the International Labor Organization gave P2.5 million as assistance while DOLE shouldered the other P2.5 million under its Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Program.

 Sarcauga said that DOLE already granted assistance to all towns in Cebu affected by the typhoon in the form of livelihood, emergency employment, starter kits and other programs and services.

The kits to be distributed to the beneficiaries varied in content, for example the electrical starter kits contained safety glasses, wire testers, cutting tools, pliers, drivers, hammer, tool box, stripper, among others worth more than P9,000.

Inside each masonry box were brick trowel, buttering trowel, bolster, chisel, masonry power saw, groovers, helmet, vest, safety shoes, and many others with an amount of more than P12,000.

Plumbing kits that cost more than P5,000 each contained pliers, basin wrench, screw driver, true lock, allen wrench, hack saw, helmet, vest, safety shoes, among others.

Sarcauga said that ILO has been their partner in the implementation of the DOLE’s programs and services.

Sarcauga said that when Yolanda struck northern Cebu, ILO intensified the assistance it extended by giving priority to typhoon victims.

Lito dela Calzada, one of the beneficiaries of the DOLE-ILO starter kits, said that he used to do carpentry works in their neighborhood with no formal training, but with the TESDA Carpentry NC II certification, his skills have improved.

“Lipay kaayo ko nga nakadawat ug mga galamiton para akong magamit sa akong giplano nga carpentry,” dela Calzada.  (FREEMAN)