DPWH hiring 500,000 workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday said that their infrastructure projects for the year would generate more than half a million jobs.

In a statement, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said that their planned projects for the year would require the hiring of 536,523 workers under the Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP).

The CBEP is a priority program of the Aquino administration. It is aimed at providing short-term employment to skilled, semi-skilled and low-skilled workers in the community.

The DPWH reminded private contractors to comply with Republic Act No. 6685, an act requiring private contractors to hire at least 50 percent of unskilled and 30 percent of skilled labor requirements from the available bona fide residents in which the projects are to be undertaken.

Singson said that they might disqualify contractors if they do not abide by RA 6685.