Maring-hit workers to get P6.3-M job assistance

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated P6.3 million for the employment of more than a thousand workers displaced by Tropical Storm Maring recently.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday said DOLE has released the initial amount for the wages of 1,200 workers who will be given jobs for six months under the government’s emergency employment program.

“Our goal here is to provide these 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 is also providing temporary employment for calamity-hit workers in other regions.

According to Baldoz, she has directed all DOLE regional directors to fast-track the profiling of displaced or affected workers so they could avail themselves of the DOLE’s emergency employment program and other interventions, including livelihood.

“They are also under ins-truction to convene the Industry Tripartite Councils of the affected industry sectors to firm up collaborative efforts toward preserving employment in their sectors,” she added.

Grace Ursua, DOLE-Ilocos region director, said Maring affected a number of towns in Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Sur.

Of the P6.3-million budget, Ursua said P5.2 million will be funded by the DOLE for the salaries of the workers who will be hired for community work like clearing operations, clean-up, and de-clogging of drainage and waterways.         

She said local government units will also provide 20 percent counterpart fund, amounting to at least P1.05 million, in the form of tools, equipment, T-shirts, meals, and other administrative costs.

Aside from emergency employment, Ursua said livelihood starter kits will be given to 300 calamity-hit workers to help them either set up a new livelihood or enhance their existing sources of income.