Emergency jobs readied for Sorsogon villagers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment allocated some P400,000 for the emergency employment of those workers displaced by the eruption of Mt. Bulusan.

DOLE-Bicol regional director Alvin Villamor said they are readying emergency employment to provide alternative source of livelihood for over a hundred residents of Casiguran, Juban, and Irosin in Sorsogon.

“These three municipalities have been greatly affected by the continuous ash fall and lava flow that prevents the residents of these municipalities from tilling their lands and fishing which rendered them ‘jobless’ and ‘penniless’ since Mt. Bulusan started erupting,” Villamor said.

Villamor said the fund would be used for salaries for 22 days of work for each of the beneficiaries.

He said jobless residents from Juban, Sorsogon, the most heavily affected municipality, will benefit from the emergency employment, while 30 residents from Irosin and another 30 from Casiguran will be employed.

Labor officials’ employment scheme is only an emergency response since they could not yet start rehabilitation work because Bulusan is still erupting.

“Perhaps next year, if the volcano has calmed down, then we can start to implement livelihood programs and pour more resources into these municipalities as long term intervention,” Villamor said.

In addition to the emergency employment fund, the DOLE regional office will also distribute 1,000 pieces of ‘dust’ masks to residents of the municipalities starting today, as part of its outreach program celebrating the DOLE’s 77th Foundation Anniversary.

DOLE reported that giving of livelihood grants in the form of the Kabuhayan starter kits and Negokart to some 300 beneficiaries, which include 25 blind masseurs, are few of the highlights of the department’s anniversary celebration in Bicol this year.