2015 Kalayaan Day Job Fair - Department of Labor and Employment

In the regions, over 131,000 vacancies
available during 2015 Kalayaan Day Job Fair
L
abor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis- nel, hotel workers, engineers, electricians, cashiers, skilled and
Baldoz said more than 131,000 jobs will be available for non-skilled workers and others. Among the top overseas jobs
job seekers in at least 10 regions in the country as the are teachers, nurses and allied professions, technicians, plumbDOLE regional offices mount their respective 2015 Kalayaan ers, architects, engineers, welders, carpenters, painters and other
Day Job Fairs.
skilled positions.
The 10 regional offices that have reported their Kalayaan Day
In the Cordillera, 1,196 local jobs will be offered to jobseekJob fairs are those in the NCR, Cordillera Autonomous Region, ers in the Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fair at the University of the
Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Central Cordilleras.
Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and SOCCSKSARGEN.
DOLE CAR Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena dis“These are more than half of the nationwide job fairs that will closed that top job vacancies are for customer service reprebe conducted simultaneously as the country celebrates its 117th sentatives, call center agents, technical support representatives,
Araw ng Kalayaan,” said Baldoz.
cashiers, merchandisers, baggers, real estate consultants, sales
She said said the Job Fairs serve as DOLE’s contribution to clerks, porters/delivery helpers, and stock clerks.
the meaningful observance of the Araw ng Kalayaan.
In Cagayan Valley,
“These job vacanthe job fair will be
cies will serve as the
held at the 3rd floor,
ticket to better lives
Mall of the Valley in
and brighter future of
Tuguegarao, Cagayan
numerous job seekers.
in partnership with
Through this job fathe local government
cilitation activities, we
unit of Tuguegarao
give profound meanCity, said Regional
ing to the spirit of the
Director Atty. Sixto
Araw ng Kalayaan.
T. Rodriguez, Jr., who
Providing job opporbared that 845 vacantunities, thus, becomes
cies will be offered by
a way of liberating the
33 participating estabFilipinos from the
lishments, while 450
clutches of poverty,”
overseas employment
Baldoz said.
vacancies will be ofIn the NCR alone,
fered by seven parsome 51,500 job vaticipating recruitment
cancies, courtesy of
agencies.
93 employers, will be
In Central Luzon
available in the Araw DOLE Undersecretaries Ciriaco Lagunzad III, Ma. Gloria Tango, and Reydeluz Conferido, along with Region, some 15,945
officials of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII),
ng Kalayaan Job Fair cut the ceremonial ribbon signalling the opening of the DOLE’s 2015 Independence Day Job Fair
jobs await jobseekers
at Rizal Park which at the Rizal Park. Looking on are other officials and members of the FFCCCII and the DOLE.
in the Independence
will be spearheaded
Day Job and Liveliby DOLE-NCR Director Alex V. Avila.
hood Fairs to be held in Bulacan and in Zambales on 12 and 18
In the Ilocos, Regional Director Grace Ursua announced that June, respectively, DOLE Regional Director Atty. Ana Dione rein La Union, at least 1,373 vacancies are available for jobseekers, ported. She said that of the total job vacancies solicited, around
while in Pangasinan, over 2,000 jobs will be up for grabs at the 10,945 will be available for local employment from 92 participatManna Mall in San Fernando City and Nepo Mall in Dagupan ing companies from various industries. The regional office exCity, respectively.
pects around 5,000 job vacancies for overseas employment from
Director Ursua bared that 13 local employers and four li- 30 recruitment agencies, as processed by the Philippine Overseas
censed recruitment agencies will join the June 12 job fairs in Employment Administration (POEA).
the region. The available local jobs in the Ilocos job fairs are
Job vacancies in Central Luzon for local employment include
for customer and technical service representatives, accountants production engineering associates, production operators, cusand account analysts, managers, supervisors, marketing personTurn to page 7
DOLE Good News
VERSEAS CORNER
64 OFWs repatriated under Oman Amnesty Program;
second batch of 40 scheduled this month
T
wo months after the government
of Oman announced a threemonth Amnesty Program for
illegal foreign workers in the Sultanate, Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa of
the Philippine Overseas Labor Office
(POLO) reported the successful application for amnesty and repatriation of
64 OFWs to the Philippines on 27 May
2015 via Oman Air. The second batch
of 40 successful amnesty applicants are
scheduled for repatriation on 10 June
2015.
In his report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz, the two batches were from the
193 Filipinos who applied for amnesty
with the Sultanate through the POLO.
Included in this total are wards housed
at the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos (MWOFRCs). Oman Air
is generously assisting the POLO in the
flight booking at a very reasonable airfare purchased by the POLO, the repatriates or from donations by individuals.
One of the wards repatriated in the
first batch is an OFW who is a victim of
human trafficking rescued by the POLO
from the Muscat International Airport
during her transit to Dubai to work as
a household service worker. Her case
was already forwarded to the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA) for investigation, and for possible charging of case against her recruiter.
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News. Letters should be no more than a
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2
June 2015
Prior to departure, the repatriates are
given a short briefing by the POLO on
what to do and what to expect upon
their arrival at the NAIA. They were informed of the Assist WELL package of
the DOLE, a comprehensive reintegration assistance to ensure that returning
OFWs who voluntarily sign up for repatriation are successfully reintegrated in
the mainstream of Philippine society.
The repatriates were delighted to hear
about the program and are looking forward to reuniting with their loved ones
back in the Philippines, with the hope
of starting anew through the assistance
provided them by the Philippine government.
“Many of our OFWs are hesitant to
sign up for amnesty for fear of not being able to find work in the Philippines.
Through the Assist WELL program,
we assured them that after repatriation,
they will be given employment assistance through job placement/referral
for local or overseas employment. They
can also avail of the livelihood assistance provided under this program,”
Mustafa said.
“OFWs are also informed of the airport assistance provided by the OWWA
upon arrival. They will be provided
temporary shelter and accommodation
for those who have no place to stay until they get home to their respective regions, transport assistance to residence,
emergency medical assistance and stress
debriefing,” Mustafa added.
Among the livelihood assistance provided under the Assist WELL program
are: the 2-B Reintegration Loan Fund
for OWWA members; Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay for distressed OFWs;
and the 10-K Livelihood Assistance for
non-documented workers.For more information about these programs, interested OFWs and their families may visit
the nearest POLO or NRCO website:
http://nrco.dole.gov.ph/. OFWs in the
Philippines or their family members
may also visit/call the nearest DOLE
regional office for inquiries.
“We are optimistic that more illegally-staying OFWs will volunteer to sign
up for repatriation rather than face the
sanctions of continuing their illegal
status in Oman. We will continue to
let more OFWs know about these programs that they may avail of so that
they can return to their families in the
Philippines for good,” Mustafa ended.
(Charmaine Mae A. Morallos)
Contributing Regional Writers
DOLE
Good News
The DOLE Good News is published by the
Department of Labor and Employment,
with editorial office at the Labor
Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE
Building, Intramuros, Manila. The views
expressed herein are those of the writers
and/or their sources and do not necessarily
reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine
Government’s.
Readers’
queries,
comments,
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Editor
NICON F. FAMERONAG
Director, LCO
Associate Editor
CATHERINE MARIE E. VILLAFLORES
Staff Writers
GERRY S. RUBIO
CELESTE T. MARING
HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY
ALTHEA LOUISE D. MAJAN
MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA
Graphic Artist
GREGORIO I. GALMAN
Photographer
JOMAR S. LAGMAY
Circulation Manager
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR
JULIENNE FORTUNATO - CAR
ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1
REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2
JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3
FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A
ROSEMARIE CAMPOS - Region 4B
RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5
AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6
LUCHEL TANIZA - Region 7
MELDY TABANAO - Region 8
GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9
MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10
SHERWIN B. MANUAL - Region 11
MICHELLE T. OLOG - Region 12
IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga
DOLE Good News
L
abor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz
announced the holding of a
business plan competition for returning
seafarers, a project led by the National
Reintegration Center for Returning
OFWs (NRCO) to encourage social
entrepreneurship and eventually support
the growth of jobs in hometowns and
communities.
Citing a report of NRCO Director
Chona M. Mantilla, Secretary Baldoz
said the nationwide competition,
dubbed,
“From
Seafarers
to
Entrepreneurs: The 2015 NRCO-ISP
Business Plan Competition (Harnessing
Seafarers’ Capacities for Business
Enterprise Development),” will start
accepting entries on 26 June 2015 and
until 30 August 2015.
“This competition
is DOLE’s innovative
way of promoting
sustainable livelihood
and micro-enterprise
by
harnessing
the earnings and
savings of overseas
Filipinos, especially
our seafarers, as
one
source
of
capital for economic
development. This is
one of the thrusts in the
2011-2016 Philippine
Development Plan,
and in the 2011-2016 Labor and
Employment Plan where the promotion
of
productive
investment
and
entrepreneurship is highly encouraged
among OFWs,” said Baldoz.
She added that the event is one
strategic reintegration program of the
DOLE to assist OFWs in securing the
future of their families by capacitating
them in carefully investing their hardearned finances.
The NRCO, a new agency under the
DOLE, is implementing the project
in partnership with the Integrated
Seafarers of the Philippines, or ISP. It
will be officially launched in a media
event on 26 June 2015 at the 12th Floor
of Jemarson Place Building, 1626 P.
Hidalgo Lim Street, Malate, Manila.
Director Mantilla said that the
awarding ceremony for the business
competition will be on 4 December
2015. The Top 10 winners will receive
Baldoz announces business plan
competition for returning OFW seafarers
incentives and other consolation prizes,
and the grand winner will get P500,000
cash prize, all to be put up by the ISP.
The details of the competition will be
announced during the media launching
and will be posted at www.nrco.dole.
gov. ph.
Mantilla
said
the
business
competition is covered by a
memorandum of agreement that she
had signed with ISP President Capt.
Gaudencio Morales and witnessed
by the NRCO Program Coordination
and Monitoring Division Chief
Melvin Caseda; Policy and Program
Development Division OIC-Chief
Dennis Cabato; ISP Agribusiness
Director Capt. Danny Ricohermoso,
ISP Secretary Princess Camille
Castillo.
The Integrated Seafarers of the
Philippines is a non-stock and nonprofit organization formed and
established
for
the
welfare of
Filipino
seafarers
and
their
families.
“The ISP aims to
create avenues where
the seafarers’ families
can improve their lives
while the seafarers
are on active duty;
and to provide ways
for their easier social
reintegration after the
culmination of their
overseas jobs,” said
Capt. Morales during the
signing of the MOA.
The NRCO, on the other hand, is
mandated to develop, promote and
implement a national agenda on
sustainable return and reintegration to
address the multi-faceted reintegration
needs of returning Overseas Filipino
Workers and their families, including
the development of their hometowns
and/or communities.
“The primary clientele of the NRCO
are returning OFWs who are classified
as undocumented Overseas Filipino
Workers; displaced, distressed and
repatriated OFWs; returning OFWs or
OFWs who return to the Philippines on
a temporary basis with the intention of
going back abroad; OFW returnees or
OFWs who return to the Philippines
with the intention to stay in the country
on a permanent basis; and families of
returning OFWs,” Mantilla explained.
(GSRubio)
June 2015
3
DOLE Good News
Baldoz unveils 12th labor laws-compliant zone marker
at Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport Authority
Z
amboanga City Mayor Maria
Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and
Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport
Authority
Chairman
Christopher
Lawrence S. Arnuco the other day
jointly expressed gratitude to Labor
and Employment Secretary Baldoz
for declaring Zamboanga Ecozone
Freeport Authority as a Labor LawsCompliant economic zone, the 12th such
to be declared, saying the move will put
Zamboanga City at the focus of local and
foreign investors.
“We are deeply gratified about this
recognition. It will definitely enhance
Zamboanga City’s image as an investment
haven and this will be beneficial to our
job seekers,” said Mayor Climaco-Salazar
and Chairman Arnuco who both joined
Secretary Baldoz in unveiling the labor
laws-compliant marker at the gate of the
zone in Brgy. San Ramon in the outskirts
of the city.
Before the unveiling, Baldoz led in the
awarding of Certificates of Compliance
on General Labor Standards (GLS) and
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) to
six ecozone locators, namely, Artnature
Philippines, Inc.; Mi Casita Company,
Inc.; AML Fastfood, Inc.; Seachamp
International;
CTK
Asia
Rubber
Corporation; and San Miguel Foods, Inc.
which have a combined 236 workers.
Likewise, Baldoz awarded COCs
on General Labor Standards and
Occupational Safety and Health to the
locators’ service providers, namely,
Helping Hands Development Cooperative;
Leadership Manpower Services; Gabmar
Manpower Agency, Inc.; Ascent Feed
Specialist, Inc. whose total combined
employment reaches 682 workers.
Another company outside the zone,
Big Fish Food Corporation, with a total
of 521 workers also received a CoC on
GLS and OSH from Baldoz during the
program.
She also handed out COC on Labor
Relations (LR) to the Katipunan Bank,
Inc. based in Dipolog, together with
its four branches; Prudential Customs
Brokerage Services, Inc.; Saint Vincent’s
College; Rural Bank of Rizal; and
Century Pacific Food Corporation,
all of which provide employment to
1,044 workers; and awarded Tripartite
Certificates of Compliance with Labor
Standards (TCCLS) and Child Labor
Free Establishment (CLFE) Certificates
to the Katipunan Bank, Inc. and its
four service providers; Montano Foods
Corporation and its service provider;
Montano Construction and Development
Corporation and its service provider;
Goldstar Seafoods Corporation and its
three service providers; and Big Fish
Corporation. Together, these companies
and their service providers employ 1,686
workers.
Also during the award ceremony,
Secretary Baldoz recognized and awarded
plaques to six regional nominees for
the National Wages and Productivity
Commission’s
2015
Productivity
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (3rd from left) led in the awarding of
Certificates of Compliance on General Labor Standards) and Occupational Safety and Health to six
ecozone locators, namely, Artnature Philippines, Inc.; Mi Casita Company, Inc.; AML Fastfood, Inc.;
Seachamp International; CTK Asia Rubber Corporation; and San Miguel Foods, Inc.
4
June 2015
Olympics. These companies are Myler
Agribusiness; Sungate Pawnshop; Dennis
Hardware; Montano Foods Corporation;
Katipunan Bank; and Rural Bank of
Rizal. These regional nominees will
undergo evaluation in July and the winner
will qualify to vie for the national award
this October.
For the first time in Western Mindanao,
Secretary Baldoz expounded on the firstyear accomplishments of the LLCS, a
flagship reform program of the DOLE,
and informed her audience about the
developmental aspects of the reform.
“Alam po ninyo, ang LLCS ay isa sa mga
reporma na itinakda ng ating Pangulong
Benigno S. Aquino III. May utos po siya sa
DOLE na siguraduhing naipatutupad ang
lahat ng batas paggawa; gawing madali para
sa mga negosyo ang tuparin ang mga ito; at
siguraduhin na hindi pabigat o hadlang ang
pagtupad sa mga batas paggawa sa pagnenegosyo upang lalong makalikha ng de-kalidad
na trabaho,” she said.
“Dati po, minsan lamang kada ika-16
na taon nabibisita o nai-inspeksyon ang mga
kumpanya kung tumutupad sa mga batas
paggawa. Sa bago pong sistema, kada ika-2
taon na po ang joint assessment sa bawat
kumpanya na isasagawa ng kabuuang 574
LLCOs. Sa dati pong sistema, 23 lamang ang
batas paggawa na naipatutupad; ngayon po,
ipinatutupad na ang 94 na batas na sakop ng
Labor Code. Maliban sa pasahod, overtime
pay, holiday pay, at iba pang monetary
benefits, ang lahat ng decent work
indicators, batas para sa mga marino (MLC,
2006), batas para sa mga contractors (DOLE
DO18-A), alituntunin para sa kaligtasan at
kalusugan ng mga manggagawa sa lugar ng
trabaho (OSHS), mga regulasyon para sa
mga recruiter ng OFWs at pagbabayad ng
premium sa SSS, PhilHealth, at Pag-Ibig
ay sakop na ng LLCS,” she related.
“We have even changed the job title
of labor inspectors. Ngayon po ay Labor
Laws Compliance Officers (LLCOs) na
ang noon ay tinatawag na Labor Inspectors
ng DOLE,” she enthused.
Baldoz said that in the last decade,
only about 24,000 establishments were
inspected annually, compared to the
76,880 establishments that have been
assessed in 2014, the first year of the
LLCS. On compliance, she reported:
“Dati po, umaabot lang sa 65 percent ang
compliance rate sa GLS; sa bagong sistema
tumaas ito sa 76.61 percent, kung saan
Turn to page 5
DOLE Good News
C
ITY OF MALOLOS – Two former OFWs from Bulacan are now
budding entrepreneurs thanks to
the National Center for Reintegration for
OFWs (NRCO) P10-K livelihood assistance
program.
Seafarer Eduardo Lumidao and automotive painter Joseph Sumagui, are just two of
the thousands of returning OFWs who want
to start life anew in the Philippines.
An OFW for 23 years, Lumidao traversed
the strong gusty winds and waves of the ocean
as a seafarer in search for greener pastures.
“Mahirap yung mawalay sa pamilya, mahirap
ang trabaho sa karagatan. Kailangang magsakripisyo para sa aking pamilya,” Lumidao shared.
In 2013, Lumidao faced a great challenge
when he was diagnosed of spondylosis, a
condition which no longer made him fit for
work as a seafarer.
“Sa di inaasahang kasamaang karamdaman,
napilitan po akong bumalik sa Pilipinas na walang kasiguraduhang kinabukasang maibibigay
sa aking pamilya,” Lumidao said.
Meanwhile, Sumagui, who was a painter
for several years in an automotive company
in the United Arab Emirates, was untimely
displaced from work due to recession.
“Sobrang lungkot at panghihinayang po na
mawalan ako ng trabaho dito sa UAE dahil ito
po ang bumubuhay sa aking pamilya. Hindi ko
po inaasahang mangyayari po ito sa akin,” Sumagui said.
When news on the NRCO’s P10,000 livelihood assistance program came about, Lumidao and Sumagui, who were qualified for the
program, wasted no time to avail for it.
Lumidao, though jobless, was able to
use his earnings abroad to put up a small
computer shop to help sustain his family’s
needs.
“Noong malaman ko po na mayroong P10,000
na livelihood assistance ang OWWA, na ngayon
Baldoz unveils . . . (from page 4)
pinakamataas ang compliance rate sa mga batas ukol
sa premium pay for rest day, night shift differential,
weekly rest period, child labor law, at separation
pay (95-99 percent). Sumunod dito ang compliance
sa PhilHealth, SSS, holiday pay, 13th month pay,
at overtime pay (90-94 percent). Umabot naman
sa 86-89 percent ang compliance sa PAG-IBIG at
minimum wage,” she further narrated.
“Kung noon ay hirap makapasok sa kumpanya
ang mga inspector ng DOLE dahil sa kanilang
police mentality, ngayon napakalaking bilang na ng
mga kumpanya ang bukas ang pinto na tinatanggap
ang LLCOs dahil ipinapaliwanag sa kanila, at
tinutulungan sila ng mga ito, kung paano maging
compliant sa pamamagitan ng libreng tulong ng
DOLE,” she added.
She also emphasized that the DOLE has
clarified the rules on sub-contracting, resulting to
the levelling of the playing field for establishments
allowed to engage in sub-contracting business.
“Noon po, naglipana ang fly-by-night contractors
na kahit walang sapat na kapital at kagamitan ay
nakakapagnegosyo. Ngayon, dahil sa reporma ng D.O.
18-A at LLCS nawala ang malaking bilang ng 18,000
po ay ang NRCO na ang nangangasiwa, hindi
na po ako nag-dalawang-isip dahil alam ko po
na magagamit ko itong karagdagang kapital sa
aking maliit na negosyo,” Lumidao said.
From the amount he received last year, he
was able to purchase additional units and
equipment such as LCDs and printers for his
computers shop.
Sumagui, meanwhile, used the livelihood assistance he received in purchasing a
welding machine, welding rods, and other
equipment used in the construction of metal
works.
“Sabi ko po sa sarili ko, kung ano man pong
tulong ang ipagkakaloob sa akin ng gobyerno, ito
po ay aking pagyayamanin dahil alam ko po na
may patutunguhan po ito,” Sumagui said.
Lumidao now runs his computer shop
with daughter, Jem Elaiza, a visual graphics design graduate and beneficiary of the
OWWA’s Skills for Employment Scholarship
Program.
“Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa livelihood assistance na ipinagkaloob sa akin ng
OWWA at ng NRCO. Sana po, matulungan din
ninyo ang iba pang kapwa ko OFW returnees
na nais manirahang muli sa Pilipinas kapiling
ang kanilang mga pamilya. Gayun din ang aking
pagpapasalamat sa OWWA dahil ang anak ko
po ay isa sa mga beneficiaries ng skills training
program nila,” Lumidao said.
Lumibao’s computer shop, which since
then has expanded to various computer services, is now a formidable small business
which can already sustain his family’s needs.
Sumagui, on the other hand, is now successfully operating his low-cost fine metal
works business, which is already well-known
within his community.
From his earnings both here and abroad,
he was able to build his own house and purchase a tricycle which he uses for work.
“Isang malaking hamon ang pagtratrabaho
sa abroad. Malayo ka sa pamilya mo, hindi mo
pa alam ang ugali ng mga kasama mo. Kaya po
ako, naging puhunan ko noon ang lakas ng loob
at pakikisama sa aking amo at mga kasamahan
sa trabaho. Inalis ko rin po ang bisyo at patuloy na
nangangarap para sa aking pamilya,” Sumagui
finally said. (Jerry Borja with reporting from
Freya Palad)
contractors, at ngayon ay 4,975 na lang ang rehistrado
sa DOLE at itinuturing natin na lehitimo.”
“Kung noon ay nagagamit ang apprenticeship,
seasonal employment, “5-5-5”, at “endo” practices
ng mga principal employers at contractors upang
iwasan ang regularization ng employment, sa
bagong sistema ay nakikipagtulungan ang kumpanya at
contractors sa pagbuo at pagpapatupad ng corrective
plan of action para baguhin at itama ang maling
patakaran, at bayaran ang anumang benepisyo ng
apektadong manggagawa. Nitong nakaraang taon,
P173,376,776.81 halaga ng benepisyo ang tinanggap
ng 207,307 na manggagawa matapos ang pagtatama
ng mga kakulangan sa pasahod at iba pang benepisyo,”
she proudly stated.
She cited the case of the fishing and fish
canning industry in Western Mindanao,
where she said four large fishing and canning
companies, namely, Aquatic Food Manufacturing
Corporation, Permex Producer and Exporter
Corporation, Ayala Seafoods Corporation,
and Universal Canning Corporation, converted
1,184 apprentices into seasonal regular workers
after the joint assessment under the LLCS. She
urged other similar companies to follow their
examples, saying it is good for business to comply
with all labor laws and occupational safety and
health standards.
Engr. Eduardo Rivero, Jr., President, Zamboanga
Peninsula OSHNet; Engr. George G. Ledesma,
Vice Chairman for Management, Regional
Tripartite Industrial Peace Council; Jose J. Suan,
Vice Chairman for Labor, Regional Tripartite
Industrial Peace Council joined Secretary Baldoz
during the marker’s unveiling, together with Sisinio
Cano, DOLE Regional Office No. 9 Regional
Director and his assistant regional director Yahya
Centi; regional heads of the member-agencies of
the DOLE Regional Coordinating Council; and
the locators of the zone.
The Zamboanga Ecozone Freeport Authority
is the 12th ecozone, and the second in Mindanao,
to have a labor laws compliant marker. The 11
others are (1) Hacienda Luisita Industrial Park;
(2) Phividec Industrial Park; (3) Mactan Export
Processing Zone II; (4) Cebu Light Industrial
Park; (5) Baguio Economic Zone; (6) Cagayan
Economic Zone; (7) Freeport Area of Bataan;
(8) PAFC Petrochemical Industrial Park; (9)
Hermosa Industrial Park; (10) TIPCO Estate
Corporation Special Economic Zone; and (11)
Angeles Industrial Park, Inc. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
In Bulacan, 2 former OFWs
reap fruits from NRCO’s
livelihood assistance
FORMER OFWS. Eduardo Lumidao, top, tends
to his computer shop while Joseph Sumagui
manages his own metal works business, all
through NRCO’s livelihood assistance program.
June 2015
5
DOLE Good News
Baldoz commends six newly declared
child labor-free barangays in Region 7
L
DOLE-10 ARD Albert Gutib (2nd from left) shakes hands with Malaybalay City Vice
Mayor Ronald Detecio during the unveiling and installation of a DOLE Job Search
kiosk at the PESO-Valencia lobby. Looking on (L-R) are Regional Staistician Bernie
Salinas; Malaybalay City PESO Manager Herculiano Ronulo; DOLE-Bukidnon
Provincial Head Raul Valmores; and DOLE Supervising LEO Arlyn Bael.
DOLE-Bukidnon launches Job Search Kiosk,
turnovers P8-M Bottom Up Budgeting
livelihood assistance to LGU-Valencia
T
he DOLE Regional Office No. X, through its OIC-Asst.
Regional Director Albert E. Gutib and Bukidnon Provincial
Field Office Head Raul L. Valmores, led the turnover of P
8 million DOLE- Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) livelihood assistance
which coincided with the launching of the DOLE Job Search Kiosk
during the LGU’s Monday Convocation Activity on 15 June 2015 in
the city.
The activity was attended by Valencia City Mayor Azucena P.
Huervas and members of the SangguniangPanglungsod, LGU
personnel, Civic Society Organizations’ representatives and project
beneficiaries. LGU-Valencia City is one of the recipients of the Job
Search information kiosk in the province of Bukidnon together with
LGU-Malaybalay City.
In his message, ARD Gutib emphasized the essential coordination,
commitment, and support of the LGU, partner-agencies and
beneficiaries to ensure sustainability of the projects saying, “Success
of any livelihood undertaking can only be achieved through
genuine partnership and cooperation among sectors involved in the
implementation of projects.”
The projects include Food & Meat Processing, High-Value
Vegetables & Spices Trading and Marketing, Tarpaulin/ T-Shirt
Printing, Rice Trading, and Starter Kit Projects benefitting some 940
direct beneficiaries and their families from twelve (12) associations
based in Valencia City who belong to the poor, underprivileged and
disadvantaged sector as identified by the LGU through its Local
Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT).
“These livelihood projects will not only provide greater opportunities
for income augmentation and also open avenues for honing their skills
and capabilities as future entrepreneurs,” Mayor Huervas stressed
in her message to the beneficiaries. “There is, however, a need to
constantly remind them that positive work values and putting first the
common interest of others rather than that of self is one of the key
factors in sustaining any group endeavor,” she added.
Meanwhile, the unveiling and installation of the Job Search Kiosk
in the lobby of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of
LGU-Valencia City is envisioned to enhanced job seekers’ look
for jobs and access to basic and relevant information regarding job
recruiters, employers, and government employment programs.
DOLE-X Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante disclosed,
“The DOLE Job Search Kiosk is an information-provider, internetbased equipment which provide information on labor market
and livelihood opportunities which is also linked with databases
of companies/establishments, POEA, OWWA, DOLE, DepEd,
CHED, TESDA and PRC, among other agencies.” (Archibald S.
Batica/DOLE-X/Bukidnon PFO)
6
June 2015
abor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz commended the DOLE Regional Office No. 7
for declaring six more child labor-free (CLF) barangays
in Negros Oriental, in addition to the two barangays previously
declared as CL-free last year.
“The efforts emanating from the grassroots level must be
sustained, because the assurance what we will be ultimately a
child labor-free country rests in the local government units.
They are among the front liners in observing R.A. 9231 which
mandates for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor
and in giving protection to working children,” said Baldoz.
DOLE Regional Office No. 7 OIC Director Ezequiel R.
Sarcauga led the awarding of Child Labor-Free Barangay
certificates which highlighted the celebration of the 13th World
Day against Child Labor in Dumaguete City.
The six new CL-free barangays are Poblacion, Santa Catalina;
Taboan, Bayawan City; Napakaw, Siaton; Pal-ew, Tanjay City;
Abis, Mabinay; and Alanginlanan, Manjuyod.
Before a crowd of Negrenses, Director Sarcauga espoused
the advocacy against child labor which has been the DOLE’s
consistent campaign. “Child labor is a world problem. We at the
DOLE have been consistently carrying out several programs to
address this global dilemma,” he said, adding that reality hurts
when children have to endure child labor because of poverty.
In Region 7, Sarcauga said, around 219,000 have been
identified as child laborers.
“We, in the government, envision for our children to aspire for
a better life through good education,” Sarcauga said in support
to the celebration’s international theme, “No to Child Labor, Yes
to Quality Education.”
Under the Batang Malaya campaign in line with the Philippine
Program against Child Labor and the country’s vision for a child
labor-free Philippines, the DOLE is committed to turn every
barangay in the country with high prevalence of child labor into
a child labor-free barangay.
Director Sarcauga said that at the barangay level, the Barangay
Council for the Protection of Children has been established to
uphold the wellbeing of the children and save them from harm.
Spearheaded by the DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office
(NOFO), the World Day Against Child Labor Celebration
in Region 7 was conducted through the concerted efforts of
its social partners and stakeholders comprised of Childfund
Philippines; World Vision; Visayan Forum; Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority; Samahan at Ugnayanng
Manggagawang Pantahanan, Inc.; Philippine Information
Agency; Provincial Social Welfare and Development OfficeNegros Oriental; City Social Welfare and Development
Office-Dumaguete; Public Employment and Service OfficeDumaguete; DepEd; Foundation University; Department of
Social Welfare and Development; Cuttin’ Loose; Dumaguete
Christian Technical Center; and the Local Government Units
of Bayawan City, Santa Catalina, Siaton, Zamboangita, Tanjay,
Mabinay, Manjuyod, and Dumaguete City.
Other activities parallel to the celebration were skills training;
team building; university course exposure of high school
participants at Foundation University; project angel tree; giving
of free haircuts; and Eco-kalan cooking demonstrations.
The DOLE-NOFO oriented the participants on the Rights of
the Filipino child putting emphasis on the DOLE’s programs
and services which aim to uphold the welfare of the children.
The stakeholders were also given a seminar on financial literacy
seminar, especially on creating, managing, and growing money,
said NOFO Officer-in-Charge Ma. Teresa D. Tanquiamco.
(LSTaniza with reporting from Bless M. De Padua of NOFO)
DOLE Good News
2015 Kalayaan Day Job Fair . . .
(from page 1)
tomer/technical support representatives,
“There are 5,054 local job vacancies reg- in Matina, Davao City, where a total of
inbound sales representatives, call center istered and 11,899 overseas job vacancies 15,755 job vacancies from the 79 participatagents, welders, sewers, medical transcrip- awaiting the jobseekers,” Sarcauga added.
ing employers will be available to interested
tionists, sales clerks, office clerks, machine
The DOLE Central Visayas has also iden- applicants.
operators, and service workers.
tified top positions needed overseas which
The top jobs in Davao for overseas emOverseas employment vacancies, on the are as follows: factory workers; hotel and ployment are nurses, salesmen for food and
other hand include production workers, restaurant service crew; laborers; carpen- non-food establishments, customer service,
engineers, architects, administrative assis- ters; nurses; pipefitters; electricians; weld- security guards, factory workers, sales astants, cooks, waiters, waitresses, construc- ers; steel fabricators; construction workers; sociates, masons, elderly care attendant,
tion workers, and plumbers.
scaffolders; plumbers; drivers; engineers; carpenters, and manicurists.
The DOLE in Western Visayas will of- mason helpers; steel fixers; programmers;
For local employment, the leading job
fer around 14,642 local and overseas jobs riggers; and mill wright fitters.
vacancies are the call center agents, cusin job fairs to be held at the University of
Meanwhile, in Northern Mindanao, Re- tomer service representatives, technical
San Agustin in Iloilo City, Iloilo, and at gional Director Raymundo Agravante said support representatives, sales personnel,
the activity center of The District North that 15 local companies and 12 overseas cable linemen/ splicers, sales consultants,
Point-Ayala Mall in Talisay City, Negros manpower agencies have confirmed their drivers/installers, operations supervisors,
Occidental.
participation in their Kalayaan Job Fair at marketing officers, and helpers.
Regional Director Ponciano M. Ligu- Iligan City Public Plaza, with around 150
In Region 12, DOLE Regional Director
tom said that aside from the
job fairs, the members of the
DOLE-Regional Coordinating
Council (RCC) will set up help
desks in the job fair venues to extend assistance to employers and
employees as well as the kasambahays who have labor-related
concerns.
In Iloilo, around 8,235 vacancies will be made available by 29
participating local companies
and overseas recruitment agencies, while in Negros Occidental, about 6,407 vacancies were
declared by 32 local companies
and overseas recruitment agencies.
For local jobs, the cyber serPart of the crowd of jobseekers at the 2015 Kalayaan Job Fair in Rizal Park.
vices, or the business process
outsourcing sector, remain the top employ- available locally-based jobs such as engi- Ofelia Domingo said she expects to have
ment generator in Region 6 with 1,438 or neers, supervisors, quality control analyst, at least 3,000 job applicants trooping to
35 per cent of the total vacancies followed safety officers, service crew, clerks, teach- their Kalayaan Day Job Fair at the SM City
by construction industry with 1,220, or 30 ers, accountants, and call center represen- General Santos Trade Hall.
per cent of the total vacancies posted. The tatives.
DOLE General Santos City Field Ofremaining 1,369 are being shared by variFrom the licensed overseas agencies, job fice Head Fatima Bataga said 100 local
ous companies in the service sector.
vacancies include 600 openings for factory and overseas employers are prepared to
On the other hand, for overseas jobs, workers, medical and paramedical work- participate during the job fair.
around 50 per cent of the total vacancies ers, construction workers (skilled and semiOverall, the DOLE Region 12 expects
posted are in social and personal services skilled), hotel and restaurant workers, to have around 10,000 available job vacanfollowed by construction industry as well teachers, and domestic helpers, to name a cies during their scheduled job fairs.
as hotels and restaurants, health, and edu- few.
An Industry Tripartite Council (ITC)
cation service sector.
The turn- over of Job Search Kiosks, to Academe Forum will also be simultaneIn Central Visayas, meanwhile, employ- be led by Director Agravante, to the local ously done at the SM City General Santos
ers both local and abroad will present a big government unit of Iligan City through Trade Hall which aims to address the isnumber of job vacancies, totaling initially acting City Mayor Ruderic C. Marzo, and sues on job mismatch through continual
to 16,953, and which will be available to the Committee Chairman on Labor and dialogue with the industry- academe secparticipating job seekers in the Kalayaan Employment and acting Vice Mayor Attor- tor as well as with parents and students in
Day Job Fair in Cebu City Sports Center.
ney Providencio A. Abragan Jr., will also keeping the academic programs responAccording to Regional Director Ex- highlight the DOLE Northern Mindanao sive to the needs of different industries.
equiel R. Sarcauga, jobseekers can choose Kalayaan Job Fair.
(GSR/ALDM/HJTG with reports from J.
from an array of job vacancies from 64 parIn Davao, Regional Director Joffrey M. Fortunato, A. Valdez, R. Estioco, J. Borja, A.
ticipating companies, 54 of which are local Suyao said the regional office is conducting Judicpa, L. Taniza, SB Manual, K. Turnos,
and 10 are overseas-based.
its Kalayaan Jobs Fair at the NCCC Mall JNJ Fabrega)
June 2015
7
ABS-CBN’s Lingkod Kapamilya commends DOLE Call Center
for providing info on SPES to teleradyo audience
T
he Department of Labor and Employment’s Call
Center has helped an intern and a researcher/
production assistant of the ABS-CBN’s Lingkod
Kapamilya program at DZMM Teleradyo gather
information and gain understanding on the Special
Program for Employment of Students (SPES) leading to
its airing in the weekly program ‘Kapamilya Konek.’
With this service mileage, the DOLE Call Center received
a pat on the back in the form of a commendation letter from
Bryan Acupan, intern, and Luci Maligaso, researcher, of
the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc.
“The [DOLE Call Center] agent gave the right
information. She also provided assistance and the necessary
telephone number which had led to the appropriate
resource person who became our guest for the radio show
“Kapamilya Konek,” Acupan said in his letter.
The commendation arose from the DOLE Call Center’s
response to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya which sought
assistance on whom to interview with regards the DOLE’s
Special Program for the Employment of Students.
Acupan talked to Cynthia Miranda, DOLE Call Center
action officer, and asked data on SPES, such as jobs being
offered by the program, and the number of beneficiaries.
The DOLE Call Center referred Acupan to the office
of Director Nicon F. Fameronag, the DOLE Spokesperson
and head of the DOLE Labor Communications Office.
Subsequently, ABS-CBN sought Dir. Fameronag as the
resource person of the program.
The information provided by Director Fameronag
became the feature in the show when the Kapamilya Konek
discussed the topic Payong Kapamilya: Extra Baon Ngayong
Bakasyon.
Kapamilya Konek presented the SPES or Special
Program for Employment of the Students, as one of the
most popular programs of the DOLE which give students
and out-of-school youth opportunities to earn income to
support their school needs.
Apart from the Teleradyo, the Kapamilya Konek also
disseminated in its social media page the benefits of SPES
to Filipino families.
“Ayon kay DOLE Labor
Communication Office Director
Nicon Fameronag, ang SPES ay
programang nagbibigay hindi lamang
ng trabaho kundi trabahong may
sweldo. Ang sweldo ay minimum wage
ng rehiyon kung saan ka nagtatrabaho.
Ang 40% ng sweldo ay ibibigay ng
DOLE na pambayad sa matrikula o
education voucher kung tawagin,
habang 60% nito ay cash na ibibigay
ng participating organization o ng
iyong sponsor. Mayroong minimum
na 20 working days at maximum na
52 working days. Sigurado rin ang
iyong social security insurance at
certificate of employment kapag natapos mo ang naturang
programa. Higit na makakatulong din ito dahil magkakaroon ka
na ng ideya at mga karanasan pagdating mo sa pormal na labor
market,” the teleradyo show informed the public.
To know more about the SPES Program, Kapamilya
Konek also encouraged its viewers to visit the official website
of DOLE, www.dole.gov.ph, and click BLE or Bureau of
Local Employment, which takes charge of the DOLE SPES
program, or call the DOLE hotline at 527-8000 from 6:00
A.M. to 10:00 P.M. or visit the nearest Public Employment
Service Office.
Kapamilya Konek is a public service program that aims
to link government agencies, organizations, and experts to
provide solutions to issues and problems faced by Filipino
families. (Vheng R. Almazora)
The DOLE Call Center, the public’s gateway on labor
and employment queries, is manned by a devoted and
efficient staff supervised by Ma. Veronica Almazora
(upper left) who are ready to help and assist callers.
Shown from right is Luz Rosas; Cynthia Miranda; and
Petronilo Bautista busy tending to calls from clients.