In Mangaldan, Pangasinan, 300 high school students were taught

O
pana Serraon, 16, wants to become an agriculturist.
It is a decision she already made in her freshman
year, so much so that when she and her co-students
were asked what course to pursue after graduating from high
school, she was the only one who replied, “Agriculture!”
Opana is among the nearly 300 graduating secondary
students of Mangaldan National High School in the province
of Pangasinan who attended the career coaching activity held
in the said school by the DOLE on 30 July 2014 as part of the
Career Guidance Week.
Career Guidance Week is
pursuant to Department
of Education Order No.
25, Series of 2013, which
mandates the conduct of
the activity on every last
week of July for high
school students.
It is a component of
the Career Guidance
Advocacy
Program
(CGAP), one of the
convergent programs of
theHumanDevelopment
and Poverty Reduction
(HDPR) Cabinet Cluster
tasked by President
Benigno S. Aquino III
to address jobs-skills
mismatch.
“We,
at
the
Department of Labor
and
Employment
Regional
Office
1,
actively participate in the
conduct of the Career
Guidance Week as a
member of the CGAP
Working
Group,”
DOLE
Regional
Office Director Grace
Ursua said in a report to Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.
Ursua said she deployed to the event the regional office’s
Labor Market Information System and Career Guidance
and Employment Coaching focal persons from its six field
offices.
The DOLE focal persons were led by Engracio Bailon,
head of the DOLE’s Dagupan Field Office. Before the
audience, he presented the most in-demand and hard-to-fill
occupations and the oversubscribed and undersubscribed
courses.
“There are many other factors that students should consider
when choosing a career in order to ensure higher employability
once they start looking for jobs. You should study and analyze
these factors before making a decision,” he said.
During her turn, Marivic Reyes, owner of a TESDAaccredited private assessment center in Dagupan City and
a TESDA Career Ambassador, spoke on the merits and
rewards of pursuing a vocational-technical course.
“Tech-voc is in. It has higher employability potential,” she
said as she presented
the TESDA’s various
programs.
With her choice of
agriculture as a college
course, Opana is on the
right path.
In Mangaldan, Pangasinan,
300 high school students
were taught the right college
and tech-voc courses at
Career Guidance Week
Based on the JobsFit:
The
DOLE
2020
Vision,
agriculture,
together with cyber
services, health and
wellness, hotel and
restaurant, and mining,
are the top five local
key
employment
generators,
yet
it
is among the most
unsubscribed courses.
“This means that there
are and there will be
plenty of opportunities
for
agriculture
graduates because so
few are taking it up as a
college course,” Bailon
explained.
Bernadette
May
Mamitag, supervising
labor and employment
officer at the DOLE
regional office emphasized to the students the importance
of career guidance.
Other agencies which participated in the week-long event
were the Professional Regulation Commission, Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority, Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration, and the Pangasinan
Public Employment Services Office.
The Vice-President for Academic Affairs of the University
of the Cordilleras in Baguio City was also present to inspire
the participants to put more value to education.
DOLE Good News
L
abor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz
announced that the Board of
Trustees of the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration has approved
its Financial Relief Assistance Program
(FRAP) for overseas Filipino workers
repatriated from Libya.
Secretary Baldoz is the Chairperson
of the 12-member OWWA Board of
Trustees.
“We know that our OFW repatriates
from Libya have been displaced from
their jobs and have been deprived of
regular income because of their abrupt
return. The OWWA Board of Trustees
has approved the FRAP as one of the
means to provide them immediate
financial relief,” said Baldoz in a media
release.
The OWWA Board has approved
the FRAP through a resolution,
Resolution No. 7 Series of 2014, or the
“Guidelines on Authorizing the Grant
of P10,000 Financial Relief Assistance
to OFWs Covered by the Mandatory
Repatriation.
The FRAP provides a P10,000
financial relief assistance to each
OFWs mandatorily repatriated due to
the Libya crisis.
“Our aim is to provide a relief measure
to lessen the impact of the repatriation
to our OFWs’ current socio-economic
condition,” Baldoz said, adding: “The
financial relief assistance of P10,000
is a one-time grant to each qualified
displaced OFW, whether a member of
the OWWA or not, to help them adjust
to their their communities.
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tell us.
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on articles that appear on the DOLE Good
News. Letters should be no more than a
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Send your letters to:
Department of Labor and Employment
Labor Communications Office
6th Flr. DOLE Bldg. Muralla St.
Intramuros, Manila
or e-mail us at [email protected]/
[email protected]
August 2014
VERSEAS CORNER
DOLE, OWWA Board of Trustees approves P10-K
financial assistance for OFW repatriates from Libya
The grant is part of the government’s
repatriation
assistance
program
which aims to cushion the impact of
employment and income displacement
affecting OFWs upon their repatriation
to the country.
The resolution provides that FRAP
amounts released to non-OWWA
members shall be reimbursed from the
DOLE Emergency Repatriation Fund,
subject to existing accounting rules and
regulations.
Under the resolution, displaced
OFWs who were repatriated starting
20 July 2014 onwards shall be granted
the financial aid, following the
announcement by the Department
of Foreign Affairs of the Alert Level
4 status in Libya which calls for
mandatory repatriation.
Relative to this, Baldoz had instructed
the OWWA to immediately put a system
in place so the P10-K financial relief
assistance can be released to qualified
repatriates through the OWWA regional
offices starting next week.
The P10-K financial relief assistance
is part of the DOLE’s package of
comprehensive reintegration assistance
and services under its Assist WELL
Program that aims to address the welfare,
employment, legal, and livelihood
needs of OFWs repatriated due to
crises or emergency situations and to
ensure their successful reintegration in
the mainstream of Philippine society.
OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado (2nd from left) welcomes OFW repatriates from Libya at the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
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,
and
suggestions are welcome. Mail or fax them
in, or call us at telephone numbers 527-3000
loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You
may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.
ph; or e-mail us at [email protected] or
[email protected].
Editor
NICON F. FAMERONAG
Director, LCO
Associate Editor
KAREN R. SERRANO
Staff Writers
MARK JAIME L. CERDENIA
MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA
CELESTE T. MARING
HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY
REVELITA F. LAXINA
STELLA P. BAÑARES
DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR
PATRICK T. RILLORTA - CAR
ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1
REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2
JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3
FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A
ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B
RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5
AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6
Graphic Artist
GREGORIO I. GALMAN
EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7
Photographer
JOMAR S. LAGMAY
ALLAN G. ABANILLA
GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9
Circulation Manager
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
FLORENCE D. PANAO - Region 8
MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10
SHERWIN B. MANUAL - Region 11
MICHELLE T. OLOG - Region 12
IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga
DOLE Good News
Joel Pantanosa (second
from left), one of the
affected workers, counts
the money representing
his wage differential and
unpaid benefits during
the settlement held last
July 18, 2014 at the DOLE
NOFO. The settlement
was witnessed by Roger
Paguntalan (right), the
assigned SEnA Desk
Officer.
In Negros Occidental, 97 construction workers
get P2.12 million benefits through SEnA
N
inety-seven
construction
workers in Negros Occidental
received their monetary benefits
amounting to P2.12-million after the
Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) successfully conciliated with
their employer the payment of their
wage differential, holiday pay premiums,
overtime pay, 13th month pay and other
social benefits.
These workers who requested
assistance
from
DOLE-Negros
Occidental
Field
Office
were
employees of Master Incorporated, a
construction company based in Cebu
City and a contractor of a real estate
developing firm in Talisay City, Negros
Occidental.
On June 26, 2014, the aggrieved
workers went to DOLE-NOFO to seek
its assistance in the recovery of their
wage differential and other unpaid
benefits.
Their complaint was filed not as a case
but a request for assistance (RFA) under
the Single Entry Approach (SEnA). This
was assigned to Rogelio Paguntalan,
SEnA Desk Officer (SEADO), who
immediately scheduled a conference on
July 3.
During the first conference, Engr.
Randy Badayos who appeared in behalf
of Engr. Paterno Navarra III, project
engineer, assured the SEADO and the
workers that he will elevate the matter
to his superiors in Cebu City.
When the workers reported to work
on July 7, they were not allowed entry
in their worksite in Bgy. Bata, Negros
Occidental; thus, they went to DOLENOFO to stage a protest. When this
information reached the attention of
DOLE 6 Regional Director Ponciano
M. Ligutom, he immediately issued an
authority to conduct a compliance visit
to Master, Inc.. Enforcement of the
same, however, was withheld pending
the lapse of the 30-day mandatory
period under the SEnA.
On July 10, Asst. Regional Director and
Head of DOLE-NOFO Cyril L. Ticao
along with the SEADO went to Master,
Inc. and talked to the management
regarding the workers’ concerns.
On July 11, during the second
hearing, Engr. Badayos requested an
individual computation so he can relay
the same to the management in Cebu
City. That same day, they gave him their
computation though apprehensive of
the management reaction considering
the huge amount.
On July 18, Engr. Badayos together
with the company’s counsel appeared
in DOLE-NOFO and paid the workers
the amount of P2.1-million representing
full settlement of their wage differential
and unpaid benefits.
Paguntalan, the SEADO handling the
request, was very happy because almost
a hundred workers were benefited of the
settlement.
“They deserve to recover the
benefits that are rightfully theirs,” he
said.
One of the affected workers, Mr.
Norbeng Ocampo, a helper who
has been with the firm for 5 years,
said that he was delighted with the
result of their request. He further
said that he was very thankful for the
DOLE’s intervention which led to the
management settling their complaint.
“I am very happy because I received
all the benefits that I was supposed to
get long ago. I thanked the DOLE for
having such program like the SENA
which helps us recover the benefits
due us from our employers. I hope
that the DOLE can help more workers
like us in the future.”
From January to July 2014, the
DOLE Region 6 has settled 340
from the 478 RFAs filed reflecting
a 71 per cent settlement rate. The
amount of assistance reached a total
of P11,664,293.04 benefiting 1,586
workers.
The bulk of these requests were filed
in Negros Occidental with 357 or 75
per cent of the total RFAs handled by
the region.
The SENA is a 30-day mandatory
conciliation-mediation approach that
is practiced by the SEADOs to assist
workers in resolving their complaints/
requests before it mature into a full
blown case.
August 2014
DOLE Good News
Maritime
Labour
Convention
2006
On 1st year anniversary of MLC, 2006’s
entry into force, Baldoz thanks
convergence partners, supporters
A
s the Philippines’s ratification to the International Labor Organization’s Maritime
Labor Convention (ILO-MLC), 2006 turned one-year on Wednesday, 20 August
2014, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz expressed
thanks and gratitude to all DOLE-partners for all their hard toil in ensuring the country is
on track in keeping up with the highest international standards of welfare and protection
for overseas and domestic Filipino seafarers.
“President Benigno S. Aquino III ratified the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006
on 20 August 2012, making the Philippines the 30th and final ILO member-state to ratify
the global treaty required for it to come into force, which happened on 20 August 2013,”
said Baldoz.
“Our convergence in setting in place policies and mechanisms for compliance with the
Convention made sure that over 300,000 overseas Filipino seafarers and 60,000 domestic
seafarers are at best protected,” she added.
The DOLE-led celebration was held on 20 August, at the AMOSUP Convention Hall,
Intramuros, Manila.
The whole-day affair highlighted the country’s observance and accomplishments of the
ILO’s Decent Work Agenda pillars on (1) creating jobs; (2) guaranteeing rights at work; (3)
extending social protection; and (4) promoting social dialogue.
Considered as a milestone in the country’s maritime history, the event aims to increase
awareness among the general public about the indispensable services that seafarers contribute
to domestic and international seaborne trade, the world economy, and society at large.
The event served as an occasion for the DOLE to recognize the efforts of domestic shipping
companies in complying with labor standards, to be highlighted by the awarding Certificates of
Compliance (COCs) to 13 domestic shipping companies.
Another highlight of the celebration is the launching of the Labor Education Programs and
Services in the Maritime Industry. POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac will conduct an
orientation and present an update on the MLC Amendments. Booths and help desks which will
feature Information and Education (IEC) materials on DOLE’s programs and services for seafarers
will also be set-up for event attendees.
“Dubbed as the “seafarers’ international bill of rights”, the MLC, 2006 is a single, coherent
international instrument that consolidates and updates fundamental principles and labor standards
for seafarers,” Baldoz said.
“For both seafarers and ship owners, the MLC provides the necessary balance between labor
standards and regulation on the one hand, and the promotion of productivity and competitiveness
on the other hand,” she added.
Baldoz explained that when the MLC entered into force 12 months after it was ratified, it became
the “fourth pillar” of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the
key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), such as the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS), International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, 1978, as amended (STCW), and
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 73/78 (MARPOL).
“A major contribution to global economic growth, the convention helped us achieve decent
work for seafarers and secure the economic interest in fair competition of quality ship owners.
The first year anniversary of the MLC, 2006’s coming into force celebrates over a decade of
involvement of the government, through the DOLE, in global maritime affairs,” Baldoz said.
“With the Philippines, being the world’s premier and preferred source of quality seafarers, we
are more than committed to exhaust best efforts to protect them and promote their welfare and
interest,” she finally said.
Representatives from the DOLE and other government agencies, such as the Department of
Foreign Affairs; Department of Health; Department of Transportation and Communication;
Social Security System; Commission on Higher Education; and National Telecommunications
Commission, graced the occasion.
August 2014
DOLE Good News
L
abor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda vice-chairman of the ILO’s Special Tripartite Committee
Dimapilis-Baldoz has congratulated all DOLE- which met last 11 April in Geneva.
partners for successfully hurdling one year of
In that meeting, POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac
observing the highest standards on seafaring through joined some 400 participants from all over the world. He
compliance with the International Labour Organization’s co-led with Canada in pushing for the adoption of new
Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC, 2006).
amendments to the MLC, 2006.
The global seafaring treaty, with 61 ILO member“A maritime milestone,” Secretary Baldoz said of this
states, including the Philippines, representing more than achievement.
80 percent of the world’s global shipping tonnage having
In his presentation of the MLC, 2006’s amendments
ratified it, aims to achieve decent work for seafarers during the celebration of the first-year anniversary of the
while securing fair competition for shipowners.
treaty’s entry into force, Administrator Cacdac said:
“The MLC, 2006 one year since it entered into force
“With this new law, our abandoned seafarers will be
on 20 August 2013, has been providing comprehensive better protected. They and their families will be provided
welfare and protection at work for foreign and domestic compensation in case of a seafarer’s death or long-term
seafarers,” said Baldoz.
disability.”
The treaty lists regulations and codes which cover
He recounted that as of March 2014, ILO’s Abandonment
minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship. of Seafarers Database lists 159 abandoned merchant ships.
It
provides
conditions
of
employment
that
shipowners
should provide them, such as
accommodation,
recreational
facilities, and food and catering.
Other concerns, such as seafarers’
health protection, medical care,
welfare
and
social
security
protection, are also covered.
On its first-year anniversary, the
DOLE being the authority mandated
to
implement
its
provisions,
thus,
outlined
the
following
accomplishments that realize MLC,
2006’s seafaring standards.
Working with the Philippine
Country Office of the ILO, the DOLE
has led in the promotion of awareness
about the MLC, 2006 among domestic
shipowners and seafarers.
Secretary Baldoz has also issued
DOLE FETES LABOR STANDARDS ACHIEVERS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY. DOLE National Capital Region
Department Order Nos. 129 and Director Alex Avila (5th from left, 2nd row) and Bureau of Working Conditions Director Catherine
130 Series of 2013, which cover the Legados-Parado awarded certificates to representatives of shipping companies that exemplified
terms and working conditions of compliance on General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards during the
seafarers in Philippine-registered 1st Year Anniversary of Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 held at the AMOSUP Convention Hall,
Intramuros, Manila.
vessels plying international and
domestic routes, and D.O. No. 127 covering conciliation- Some date back to 2006; many remain unresolved.
Abandoned seafarers are thus left to work and live on
mediation to address on-board complaints.
Before these, Baldoz led in the establishment of board ships without pay for long periods. They even lack
a national and regional maritime industry tripartite food and water supplies, medical care or means to return
home.
councils (MITCs) in key homeport areas.
Cacdac explained that with the new amendments, when
“These serve as mechanisms to communicate
maritime-related concerns, as well as in the formulation seafarers board their ships, certificates or other documents
will need to be carried on board to establish that shipowners
of maritime labor policies,” Baldoz observed.
“The MITCs allow for the continuity of engagement have ensured that financial security is in place to protect
and accountability of domestic shipowners in enforcing seafarers working on-board.
Failure to provide this protection may mean that a ship
MLC, 2006 in the country,” she added.
Baldoz expressed confidence that with all these can be detained in a port.
“Such international legal measures will further improve
measures in place, the Philippines will remain to be the
working and living conditions of our seafarers, the most
top supplier of seafarers in the world.
And in recognition of the DOLE’s leadership in seafaring globalized of the world’s workers, when the new amendments
and ship manning, as well as of its efforts to secure and become effective in 2017, barring any hitches,” Cacdac
protect Filipino seafarers, the Philippines was voted as said.
Baldoz cites MLC, 2006 accomplishments
on domestic seafaring
August
2014
DOLE Good News
In Koronadal, South Cotabato, 432 unemployed
informal sector workers receive P3.46-M
in DOLE livelihood assistance
STRENGTHENING SELF-EMPLOYMENT, LIVELIHOOD IN SOUTH COTABATO. Department of Labor
and Employment Regional Office No. 12 Director Ofelia B. Domingo (2nd from right) awards a check
amounting to P1,305,980 to Adventure’s Multi Purpose Cooperative representatives for a proposed
Retailing of Consumer Goods and Commodities project in Polomolok, South Cotabato. The livelihood
assistance is part of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) in
the region, where over P1.3 million was recently awarded by the DOLE Regional Office No. 12 to the
provincial government of South Cotabato to provide livelihood opportunities to 432 unemployed and
disadvantaged South Cotabatenos.
R
egional Director Ofelia B.
Domingo of the DOLE
Regional Office No. 12 reported
to Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz the release
of P3,464,447 in livelihood assistance
for 432 unemployed informal sector
workers in South Cotabato.
“The livelihood assistance is under
the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and
Emergency Employment Program
(DILEEP). We have partnered with
the provincial government of South
Cotabato for the delivery of livelihood
starter kits to these 432 informal sector
workers,” said Director Domingo in her
report.
She said the 432 workers will engage
in various home-based livelihood, such
as nail care or manicure-pedicure;
food processing; eatery or carenderia;
carpentry; plumbing and other home
maintenance services; vulcanizing;
computer repair and programming;
balut production; and barbecue.
The DOLE regional office had
released the livelihood assistance to
South Cotabato Vice Governor Cecil
Diel, who expressed sincere gratitude
to the DOLE for the assistance.
The South Cotabato provincial
government has been accredited by
the DOLE as a co-partner under the
DILEEP.
“We at the provincial government
continue to be grateful to the DOLE
for its livelihood and emergency
employment program that contributes a
lot to our efforts to uplift the lives of our
poor fellow South Cotabatenos. Thank
you for the opportunity to change their
lives for the better,” Vice Governor
Diel said during the simple turn-over
of the livelihood grant to the provincial
official.
During the turn-over, Regional
Director Domingo also awarded a
grant to P1,305,980 to the Adventure’s
Multi Purpose Cooperative based in
Barangay Cannery, Polomolok, South
Cotabato, for its consumer goods and
commodities retailing business.
In her message during the turn-over,
Domingo appealed to the beneficiaries
not to waste the chance given by the
government to improve their present
situation.
“Pag-ingatan sana ninyo ang pondong
bigay ng DOLE dahil galing po iyan
sa buwis ng taong-bayan,” she said.
“Mapalago sana ninyo ang inyong negosyo
upang umunlad ang inyong pamumuhay,”
Domingo added.
In Mangaldan, Pangasinan . . . from page 1
During the week, several hundred more students in
national and private high schools in the cities of Batac and
Laoag, Solsona, Sarrat, and Paoay in Ilocos Norte; City of
San Fernando, Agoo, Naguilian and Rosario in La Union;
Anda, Labrador and San Jacinto in Pangasinan, have been
reached by the DOLE’s Career and Employment Coaching
program.
At the Mangaldan National High School, school officials
held a quiz; organized a debate; and conducted a career
booth contest; while the San Jacinto National High School
organized a parade of professions to celebrate the event.
“With the fast developments in the labor market, we
see the ever growing need to intensify our career and
employment coaching for students to ensure that they are
properly guided in making their career choices and shorten
August 2014
their transition from school to work,” Director Grace Ursua
said.
From January to July 8 this year, the DOLE regional
office’s six field offices have already conducted career
coaching activities in 111 high schools, benefiting 15,057
students across the region.
DOLE Good News
DOLE AWARDS COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
TO TAGANITO MINING CORPORATION.
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz (3rd from left) and Engr.
Jose Anievas, Vice President for Operation
and Resident Mine Manager of Taganito
Mining Corporation, display the Certificate
of Compliance (COC) issued to Taganito
Mining Corporation’s marine cargo vessel,
LCT TMC II, by DOLE Caraga Regional
Director Johnson Canete for being
compliant with general labor standards
and occupational safety and health
standards. The awarding of the COC was
held onboard the vessel docked at Claver,
Surigao del Norte. At extreme left is
Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, head of
the DOLE’s internal and labor relations
cluster, together with other TMC officials.
On the first year anniversary of the MLC, 2006’s entry into force:
Baldoz joins conduct of joint assessment of ship in Surigao del Norte
C
laver, Surigao del Norte--Labor
and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis Baldoz
emphasized that the DOLE’s new Labor
Laws Compliance System (LLCS)
for the first time covers and applies to
companies and workers in domestic
shipping and, thus, encouraged
Philippine-registered
ships
plying
domestic waters to voluntarily comply
with all labor laws.
“Ensuring compliance with all
labor laws, including with safety and
health standards, are pursuant to
our obligations under the Maritime
Labor Convention, 2006, and national
issuances, such as D.O. No. 129, or the
“Rules and Regulations Governing the
Employment and Working Conditions
of Seafarers Onboard Ships Engaged in
Domestic Shipping, and the new LLCS,”
said Baldoz during a dialogue with
officials of officials of Taganito Mining
Corporation (TMC), one of the country’s
largest nickel mining companies.
Baldoz, together with Undersecretary
Rebecca Chato, head of the DOLE’s
internal and labor relations cluster,
and DOLE Caraga Regional Director
Johnson Canete, visited Claver in the
Caraga Region to join in the conduct
of a joint assessment of TMC’s cargo
vessels at the Claver Port, in a bid to
emphasize the seriousness of the DOLE
in accelerating implementation of the
new LLCS.
“Voluntary
compliance
fosters
harmonious workplace relations and is
generally good for business. It leads to
productivity and profitability,” the labor
and employment chief emphasized
before boarding one of TMC’s cargo
ships, the LCT TMC II, for the joint
assessment.
TMC owns three cargo vessels
and contracts several other ships to
transport its mine production from the
shore to the ships for export. It engages
a crewing agency, Lacerta Shipping
Agencies Philippines, Inc. to man its
three vessels.
The joint assessment is one of the
mechanisms that the DOLE uses under
the LLCS.
During the process, management and
worker representatives sit down with
the DOLE to assess compliance, with
the latter informing the former about
the various labor laws, including the
safety and health standard regulations,
that the company ought to comply.
If deficiencies or gaps in compliance
are discovered during the assessment, a
plan of action is formulated to correct
the gaps or deficiencies.
The DOLE teaches the company and
the workers on how to comply. After
the gaps or deficiencies are effected, the
DOLE issues a certificate of compliance
to the company.
Engr. Eric Igual, together with the
TMC management representative
and the TMC union, informed
Secretary Baldoz that the result of the
joint assessment showed very minor
deficiencies/gaps.
Some of these were the lack of
organized safety and health committee;
lack of occupational safety and health
reportorial requirements; lack of
on-board and on-shore complaint
procedure; no weekly rest period;
lump-sum salary structure; no written
program and policy on prevention of
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, TB, and sexual
harassment.
Also, the employment agreement
of the 19 crew of the ship is not coterminus with the service agreement
of the manning agency with the
principal, and the manning agency is
not registered with DOLE under D.O.
18-A.
In the presence of Secretary Baldoz,
the TMC management submitted an
undertaking and pledged to correct
these deficiencies/gaps in 20 days
under the agreed action plan. On this
note, DOLE Caraga Regional Director
Johnson Canete issued a CoC to the
mining company.
Baldoz
instructed
ConciliatorMediator Ericson Igual, head of the
joint assessment team, to restructure
the salary structure of the seafarers
manning the ship, and also directed
Director Canete to continue monitoring
the company’s compliance, particularly
with its undertaking.
“The DOLE is here to help you
comply. All our technical assistance
services are free. You should not
anymore fear the DOLE because our
new labor law compliance system is
designed as a mix of developmental and
regulatory approaches that encourages
voluntary compliance,” Baldoz said.
August 2014
2014 Mid-Year Performance Assessment
Highlights
INDUSTRIAL PEACE MARKS THE FIRST SEMESTER OF 2014.
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
(3rd from left), gives a special citation to DOLE Directors
Teresita Audea and Ma. Cristina Mangaliman, representatives
from NCMB and Office of the Secretary Concilliation Unit,
respectively, for maintaining a zero-strike achievement for
the first semester of 2014. Also joining the Secretary are
Undersecretaries Rebecca Chato; Ciriaco Lagunzad III; and
Reydeluz Conferido.
DOLE CITES REGIONS WITH HIGHEST
NUMBER OF SPES BENEFICIARIES. Secretary
Baldoz (left) congratulates DOLE Regional
Directors Henry John Jalbuena (RO CAR);
Zenaida Angara (RO 4-A); and Grace Ursua (RO
1) for being the top performing regions with
the highest number of Special Program for
Employment Students (SPES) beneficiaries.
STRENGTHENING DOLE’S
LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES IN THE REGIONS.
Secretary-Baldoz (left), joined by
Assistant Secretary Gloria Tango
and Bureau of Workers with Special
Concerns Director Ahma Charisma
Satumba, congratulates DOLE
Regional Directors Henry John
Jalbuena (CAR); Zenaida Angara (RO
4-A); and Raymundo Agravante (RO
10) for being the top performing
regions with the highest number of
livelihood beneficiaries.
DOLE MINDANAO CLUSTER NOW ALL ISOCERTIFIED. Secretary Baldoz (left) and Mindanao
cluster head Undersecretary for Labor Relations
Rebecca Chato (right) congratulates the Mindanao
cluster represented by DOLE Regional Directors
Sisinio Cano (RO 9); Raymundo Agravante (RO 10);
Joffrey Suyao (RO 11); Ofelia Domingo (RO 12);
and John Canete (CARAGA) for receiving a special
citation as the first regional cluster to complete the
ISO certification.