DOLE to provide emergency jobs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will provide “emergency employment” to 5,544 workers in Metro Manila who were displaced due to the massive flooding spawned by Tropical Storm Maring.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday said the program will also be implemented for displaced workers in Central Luzon and the Calabarzon region.

Aside from this, DOLE will organize job fairs for the displaced victims in these three regions to help them rebuild their lives.

“Our goal here is to provide our displaced workers immediate relief from the calamity by giving them income, and at the same time, enlist them for the rehabilitation, clearing and cleaning of their affected communities,” Baldoz said.

She said DOLE directors in these regions have been directed to fast-track the profiling of affected workers “so that we can implement the labor department’s emergency employment program and other interventions, including livelihood.”

A report of Alex Avila, DOLE director for the National Capital Region, showed that of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila, six cities and one municipality have been placed under a state of calamity after these were ravaged by monsoon floods caused by Maring.

DOLE has earmarked P11.85 million for the salaries of the workers who will be hired for “community work like clearing operations, cleaning, sweeping and declogging of drainage and waterways inundated by the floods.”

According to Baldoz, DOLE will conduct job fairs in the three affected regions to help workers find new jobs.

“Side by side with our post-calamity efforts to help displaced workers, we will also assist jobseekers in finding decent jobs. I urge job applicants in these calamity-stricken regions to visit their local Public Employment Service Office and register for the job fairs,” she said.

Kris, Ballsy join relief operations

Presidential sisters Kris Aquino and Ballsy Cruz distributed in Magalang, Pampanga last Friday afternoon relief goods to some 1,000 flood victims.

The two also handed out relief supplies in Tarlac.

In her Twitter account, Kris appealed for prayers for the victims of the massive flooding.

Toyota offers special discounts

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) yesterday announced that it would conduct special service assistance for its customers whose vehicles were affected by the recent floods.

TMP, in a statement, said it is offering special discounts for parts and labor for repairs of flood-damaged Toyota vehicles, including a 40 percent discount in engine ECU; 20 percent on selected parts; and 20 percent discount on labor.

TMP believes it is their “duty to be of service to their valued customers especially in trying times like these.”

SSS calamity relief package

The Social Security System (SSS) has also announced a calamity relief package for its members and pensioners affected by Maring.

In a statement, SSS vice president May Catherine Ciriaco said the relief package covers members in places officially declared as calamity areas by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. – With Ding Cervantes, Paolo Romero, Zinnia de la Peña