Proposed legislative and policy reform measures gain nod of the TIPC

Proposed legislative and policy reform
measures gain nod of the TIPC
T
he Tripartite Industrial Peace
Council (TIPC) inked its
approval to several proposed
legislative and policy measures during
its plenary meeting on 7 October 2014
at the Occupational Safety and Health
Center (OSHC), Diliman, Quezon
City.
In addition, there were five (5)
priority bills endorsed last year which
two TIPC was approved legislative
measures governing Philippine Labor
and Employment for submission to the
16th Congress.
First, the “Union Registration Bill”
or “An Act Further Strengthening
Workers’ Right to Self-Organization,
Amending for this Purpose Articles
234, 235, 236 and 237 of Presidential
Decree No. 442, otherwise known as
the Labor Code of the Philippines, As
Amended.” This bill seeks to reduce the
minimum membership requirement for
registration of independent unions from
20 percent to 10 percent and reduce the
registration requirement for federation
from 10 to 5 duly recognized bargaining
agent-local chapters.
“The UR Bill seeks to align the
Philippine Labor Code on registration
requirements for independent unions and
labor federations with ILO Convention
No. 87 (Freedom of Association and
Protection of the Right to Organize)”,
said Undersecretary Rebecca Chato,
Vice-Chair of the TIPC.
As the second significant tripartiteendorsed bill, the “Labor Market Test
Bill” or “An Act Amending Articles
40, 41 and 42 of the Labor Code of the
Philippines whichimproves the rules
on the employment of non-resident
foreign nationals by specifying penalty
provisions for foreign nationals who
shall take up employment in violation
of the rules, and making employers
“The Union Registration
Bill seeks to align the
Philippine Labor Code on
registration requirements
for independent unions
and labor federations with
ILO Convention No. 87
(Freedom of Association and
Protection of the Right to
Organize).”
- DOLE Undersecretary Rebecca Chato
Vice-Chair of the TIPC
liable in the engagement of services of a
foreign national without an employment
permit.
The five (5) legislative measures
earlier endorsed to the 16th Congress
are the “Apprenticeship Bill” or “An Act
Reforming the National Apprenticeship
Program and Providing Regulatory
Standards for the Training of
Apprentices, and for Accreditation of the
Programs, Thereof ”; the “PESO Bill”
or “An Act Defining the Role of DOLE
and LGU on the Establishment”;“OSH
in the Construction Industry Bill” or“An
Act Institutionalizing Occupational
Health and Safety of Workers in the
Construction
Industry”;“Voluntary
Compliance with Labor Laws Bill”
or “An Act Fostering a Culture of
Voluntary Compliance with Labor
Laws, Amending for the Purpose
Article 128 of the Labor Code of the
Philippines”; and “Appeal of NLRC
Decisions to the Supreme Court Bill”
or “An Act Providing for Appeal of
the Decisions of the National Labor
Relations Commission To The Supreme
Court, Amending for this Purpose
Articles 223 and 224 of the Labor Code
of the Philippines.
In addition, the TIPC proved to be
productive in its approval of another
two significant issuances namely, the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of
Republic Act No. 10524 (Employment
of Persons with Disabilities) which
requires that at least 1 percent of all
positions to government agencies,
offices or corporations shall be reserved
for PWDs; and the Revised Rules on
Private Recruitment and Placement
for Local Employment which prohibits
the collection of placement fees and
streamlines the administrative procedure
in disposing recruitment violations,
among others.
The Department of Labor and
Employment’s policy on tripartism and
social dialogue, as reflected in the TIPC
structure, serves as a firm foundation
for its continuing efforts in fostering
inclusive growth and industrial peace
in the country through the active
engagement of both workers and
employers in the decision and policymaking processes of the government.
DOLE Good News
On the 14th National PESO Congress
ZAMPEN PESO Managers ‘invade’ GenSan
P
hilippine Employment Services
Offices of the Zambales Peninsula have given recogntion, through
the PESO Managers, in implementing
the Department of Labor and Employment’s employment facilitation program during the 14th National PESO
Congress, held in General Santos City
on 22-24 October 2014.
Forty-five PESO Managers, together
with Zamboanga Peninsula Regional
Director Sisinio B. Cano, trooped to the
tuna capital of the Philippines to participate in the three-day event.
The PESO Congress served as avenue for the PESOMAP Network to
discuss opportunities and challenges
of the ASEAN integration, and prepares them to embrace their herculean
responsibilities as employment facilitation partners.
At the Congress, Hon. Emmanuel
“Manny” Pacquiao (Sarangani, Lone
District), gave a message of support
before the conferment of the National
Best PESO awards. With him, from
the Zamboanga Peninsula, receiving
special citations were Sylvia B. Sumondong of St. Vincent’s College, Dipolog
City (SUC/NGO Category), Susan G.
Cabrera of LGU- RT. Lim, Zamboanga
Sibugay (3rd-4th Class Municipality
Category), and Otilla W. Ricablanca of
Isabela City, Basilan (Component City
Category). The crowd was inspired
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2
October 2014
Sylvia B. Sumondong (4th from left) of St. Vincent’s College and Dipolog City PESO Manager, bagged
plaques of Special Citation for the SUC/NGO Category. With her are DOLE-ZamPen Regional Director
Sisinio B. Cano (3rd from right) and DOLE-ZamPen staff.
with the presence of Hon. Karlo Alexei
Nograles who was the guest of honor
during the awards night.
During the congress, the Local Chief
Executive’s good practices in PESO institutionalization were recognized, and
successful Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) beneficiaries gave their testimonies on how the
SPES program, through the intervention of the PESOs greatly shaped their
careers.
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’
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and
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Editor
NICON F. FAMERONAG
Director, LCO
DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR
JULIENNE FORTUNATO - CAR
ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1
Associate Editor
CATHERINE MARIE E. VILLAFLORES
REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2
Staff Writers
CELESTE T. MARING
HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY
MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA
FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A
Graphic Artist
GREGORIO I. GALMAN
Photographer
JOMAR S. LAGMAY
Circulation Manager
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3
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
BWSC
evaluates
Camiguin
livelihood
projects
By Jovelyn V. Perez and Glenford C. Labial
T
(TOP TO BOTTOM) Maria Lourdes “Cheekee” J. Gonzales (2nd from right), Chief
of the Workers in the Informal Economy Development Division of the Bureau of
Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), together with DOLE Camiguin Field Office
staff visit a campana cut-flower plantation in Pandan, Mambajao; a motorcycle
parts and vulcanizing shop in Tagdo, Mambajao; and a workers association of the
Mambajao Water District, all beneficiaries of the BWSC’s livelihood projects.
he Bureau of Workers with Special
Concerns (BWSC) has visited at random
and evaluated the existing DOLE
livelihood projects in Camiguin through actual
beneficiary interview.
The DOLE Provincial Field Office of Camiguin assisted
the visitation of Maria Lourdes “Cheekee” J. Gonzales,
Chief of the Workers in the Informal Economy
Development Division of Gonzales of the BWSC.
The projects randomly selected were: a) Motor Parts
Sales and Vulcanizing Shop of Tagdo Highlander
Operators and Drivers Association, Tagdo, Mambajao;
b) Campana Cut-Flower production of Campana Cutflower Production Association, Pandan, Mambajao;
c) Tourist Souvenir Shops Additional Financing
Project of Bonbon Fishermen Associations, Bonbon,
Catarman; d) CYMRAKAS’s Operation of Giant Clam
Reproduction/Research and Development Laboratory
and Rental Equipment Materials for Snorkeling and
Floating Fish Cage Culture of Cantaan Centennial
Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Guinsiliban, Cantaan; e)
Mambajao Water District Workers Association; and f)
TUPAD beneficiaries with Atty. Frances Margaret C.
Aparte, Provincial Legal Officer.
The visitation of the bureau was successful and
beyond satisfaction as articulated by its Chief. “It
is important for us to randomly check and monitor
the province’s DOLE approved projects because we
want to assure ourselves that the projects are properly
implemented and sustained with good management”.
Gonzales said.
“Above our objective, we want to see how the people
of Camiguin are served and have improved their
living through our program. Due credits are given to
the local government units through Governor Jurdin
Jesus M. Romualdo and Congressman Xavier Jesus D.
Romualdo,” she appreciated.
Together with the Camiguin DOLE staff, Ms. Jovelyn
Perez and Mr. Glenford Labial, the team made a
courtesy call with Honorable Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo,
Congressman of the lone district of Camiguin.
BWSC is the recognized government agency that
champions the development and protection primarily of
disadvantaged workers, by contributing to their decent
and productive employment.
October 2014
3
DOLE Good News
52 LLCOs, 39 employees
attend RBM&E training course
H
uman Resource Department
Services had organized three
back-to-back
specialized
trainings, including Training and
Workshop on Competency Standards
Development, Basic Course for Labor
Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs),
and Results-Based Monitoring and
Evaluation Training on 19 October
2014 at Bayview Park Hotel,
Manila.
“We have doubled our effort to
make sure the number of capacitated
DOLE employees will increase
considerably before the end of 2014.
We are motivated by the thought
that through our hard work, we
are producing more competent
individuals who will manage DOLE
projects and programs effectively
and efficiently,” said HRDS Chief
Katherine B. Brimon.
It was reported that 52 Labor
Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs)
were trained which composed of
newly hired LLCOs and non-LLCO
personnel who can be tapped for
augmentation whenever necessary.
Assistant Secretary Maria Gloria M. Tango
delivers her opening remarks during the
Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation
(RBM&E) training at the Bayleaf Hotel in
Intramuros.
4
October 2014
In the 10-day training on Basic Course
for LLCOs , it focused on the essence on
General Labor Standards, Labor Laws
Compliance System, BWSC Programs
and Services, Wage and Productivity
Principles, Workplace Relations, Basic
Occupational Safety and Health course,
and Basic Skills for LLCOs.
Following the LLCO activity
was the Results-Based Monitoring
and Evaluation (RBM&E) training
conducted on 22-24 October 2014 at the
Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros.
In partnership with the Development
Academy of the Philippines (DAP),
DOLE convened 39 representatives
from the Services, Bureaus, Regional
Offices and Attached Agencies for the
introductory course on RBM&E.
The training is in time with the Aquino
Government’s move to conduct process
assessment and impact evaluation in
selected projects that will be identified
by the National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA). The intention is to
determine if the projects are delivering
what are expected from them and if it
has really impacted people’s lives.
“Here in DOLE, we have
existing monitoring tools, however,
heterogeneous in form. We need a
uniform tool that would beget common
understanding of where we at in terms
of implementation, substantiate the
outcomes of our interventions, and
at the same time describe the impact
we are making in the lives of our
stakeholders, “ said Assistant Secretary
Maria Gloria M. Tango in her opening
remarks.
Furthermore, the concepts and
principles of M&E, tools and approaches
used, measuring program results, and
setting baselines and gathering data on
indicators were introduced by Ms. Anne
Leslie Santos and Mr. Clement Rasul,
who facilitated the learning activities
for three days. Workshops on logical
framework and hands-on computation
of proxy data were part of the program
to give the representatives an idea of
how these are done.
Training
evaluation
shows
appreciation of the participants in
the activity, giving emphasis on the
effectiveness of the Resource Speakers
and the modalities used such as plant
visit, sharing of LLCO’s experiences,
and role-playing, which were found
helpful in understanding the duties and
responsibilities of the position.
DOLE Good News
Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (4th from left), together with Regional Director Henry John S. Jalbuena (5th from left), gave recognition to two
institutions from the Cordillera, namely, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., Ambuklao Hydro-electric Powerplant (Silver) and SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc.,
Binga Hydro-electric Power Plant (Bronze) during the 9th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan awarding ceremony at the OSHC.
SN Aboitiz power plants receive DOLE- GKK awards
F
or their outstanding contributions to the safety and health of
their workers and their workplaces and communities, two institutions
from the Cordillera Administrative Region have been declared winners of the
9th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan
(GKK), the Department of Labor and
Employment’s (DOLE) highest and
most prestigious award for occupational health and safety.
SN Aboitiz- Power Benguet Inc., Ambuklao Hydro-electric Power Plant and
SN Aboitiz- Power Benguet Inc., Binga
Hydro-Electric Power Plant received
silver and bronze awards, respectively,
for occupational safety and health under the Institutional Category during
the awarding ceremony at the OSHC
Auditorium, Diliman, Quezon City, on
27 October 2014.
In her keynote message, Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis- Baldoz, encouraged winners to share with the community what they have achieved. She
said: “I thus endeavor you, GKK winners, to zealously impart your commitment to safety and health and
share this with other companies and
individuals so that, they too, can be
OSH champions. I foresee that we
will achieve greater successes in uplifting the welfare of all Filipino workers
whether here or abroad, with all the
efforts we are doing”.
The GKK is one of DOLE’s five
“seals of good housekeeping” under
the Incentivizing Compliance Program (ICP), a major reform measure
of the DOLE that aims to engender,
encourage, and build a culture of voluntary compliance with labor and
OSH standards among the country’s
industries.
Regional Director Henry John S. Jalbuena said that SN Aboitiz Ambuklao
and Binga Hydro-Electric Power plants
serve as models of excellence in Occupational Safety and Health through
their investments in welfare and protection of Filipino workers.”
The GKK is a biennial award given
by the DOLE to companies and individuals with outstanding occupational
safety and health practices, programs,
innovations, and contributions. It is
one of the five good housekeeping
seals under the DOLE’s Incentivizing
Compliance Program which aims to
encourage companies to voluntarily
comply with general labor laws and
occupational safety and health standards.
October 2014
5
DOLE Good News
In CAR, Family Welfare Program took center stage in Summit
T
he
Department
of
Labor
and Employment Cordillera
Administrative
Region
has
gathered members of the Family Welfare
Federation, including its stakeholders,
both in private and public, in a regional
summit on the Family Welfare Program
(FWP) on 16 October 2014 at the Venue
Park View Hotel in Baguio City.
“The regional summit on the Family
Welfare Program is successful,” Henry
John Jalbuena, DOLE-CAR Regional
Director.
“Representatives
from
41
organizations—educational institutions,
hotel
and
restaurants,
electric
cooperatives, manufacturing, business
process outsourcing services, retail and
whole, management services, and mining
in the region—comprised the 77 summit
participants. They are either human
resources managers, administrators,
company nurses, and safety officers,”
Jalbuena added.
The Family welfare Program is
mandatory in establishments with
more than 200 workers. It is aimed at
promoting a healthy workplace as a key
to business success.
At the summit, participants discussed
best practices to attain better quality
of life of the worker’s family that will
contribute to reduce absenteeism and
tardiness, as well as to a reduced job turn
over; better quality workforce with high
productive capacity; and significantly
improved and peaceful industrial
relations.
“The DOLE’s Family Welfare
Program seeks to introduce the
concept of promoting the welfare of
the workers and their families as key to
workplace productivity and improved
worker-management relations,” said
Jalbuena.
The summit was highlighted by an open
forum where participants clarified issues
and concerns on Family Planning and
Reproductive Health, Sexual Harassment
in the Workplace and Violence against
Women and Children, Values Formation
and Work Ethics and Updates on
Employees Compensation Program.
In his message at the summit, Jalbuena
said a company which has a Family
Welfare Committee induces harmonious
relationships between employer and
6
October 2014
Participants reenact different situations under the ten dimensions of family welfare.
(Left) Gil Datayan Jr. lectures on the Employees Compensation
Program; (center) Leo Diaz speaks on values formation and work
ethics; and (right) Betty Lourdes Tabanda enlightens companies
on sexual harassment in the workplace and violence against
women.
employee. He said employers with FWP
will have to look not only at profits, but
also at the 10 FWP dimensions, namely,
Reproductive
Health/
Responsible
Parenthood; Education/Gender Equality;
Spirituality and Values Formation; Income
Generation/ Livelihood/ Cooperative;
Medical Health Care; Nutrition;
Environment Protection; Hygiene and
Sanitation; Sports and Leisure and
Housing and Transportation.
“These 10 dimensions result to better
productivity of a company,” stated
Judith R. Adina, President of the Family
Welfare Federation–CAR.
The FWP is one of the DOLE’s
strategies in fulfilling the goal of decent
work for Filipino workers laid down
in President Benigno Aquino III’s 22point Labor and Employment Agenda
and the Labor and Employment Plan
2011-2016.
DOLE Good News
T
acloban City – The National
Maritime Polytechnic, the premier
government maritime training and
research center in the country, conducted
a five-day Workshop on Course Review
and Revision of Standard of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)
for Seafarers Courses on 13-17 October
2014 at the NMP Training Building
Complex in Brgy. Cabalawan.
The workshop is part of the agency’s
preparation for another accreditation
inspection from the Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA) STCW Office.
Among the STCW Courses that
underwent course review and revision were
Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
(PSSR), Personal Survival Techniques
(PST), Proficiency in Survival Craft
other than Fast Rescue Boat (PSCRB),
Ratings Forming Part of Navigational
Watch (RFPNW), Ratings Forming
Part of Engineering Watch (RFPEW),
General Operator’s Certificate for Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GOC for GMDSS), Fire Prevention and
Fire Fighting (FPFF), Radar Navigation,
Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA
(RNRPUARPA), Consolidated Maritime
Pollution (Conso MARPOL) 73/78
Annex I-VI, Medical Emergency First
Aid (MEFA), and Elementary First Aid
(EFA).
NMP tapped its pool of training
specialists who handle these subjects as
Subject Matter Experts (SME). Among
those involved in the course review
NMP conducts workshop on Course
Review and Revision of STCW Courses
and revision were Engr. Ponciano
V. Trinidad, Maritime Training and
Assessment Division OIC Head,
for PSSR; Telesforo M. Sambalilo,
Instructor I, for PST/PSCRB; 2/M
Edgar J. Amoin, Associate Professor
I, for RFPNW; Engr. Claro L. Coscos,
Associate Professor I, for RFPEW;
Abraham E. Pingol, Instructor I, for
GOC for GMDSS; 3/M Leopoldo
G. Abelinde, Associate Professor I,
for FPFF; Ferdinand T. Go, Registrar
III and former Maritime Trainer, for
RNRPUARPA; Engr. Dario C. Cinco,
Human Resource Management Section
OIC Head and Maritime Trainer, for
Consolidated MARPOL; and Danilo E.
Ramos, guest trainer, for MEFA, and
EFA Engr. Ronnie D. Gernato,
Assistant Professor I, and Engr. Jose
Romualdo Q. Denzon, Assistant
Professor I were also present to assist in
the review and revision.
The
Curriculum
Development
Unit (CDU) with its OIC Head Lydia
S. Pacheco acted as facilitator and
pedagogic expert together with Maria
Sandra M. Gallardo, Planning Officer
II; Ma. Chona B. Rama, Learning
Resource Center Head; and Jed Paolo
A. Cairo, Administrative Officer IV.
The participants of the workshop
formed themselves into working teams.
Nego Kart . . . (mula sa pahina 7)
Bilang patunay ng sarap ng loglog, simula noong pagbukas
nila sa Public Market noong Pebrero, ay dalawang beses nang
may nagtanong at gustong bilhin at mag franchise ng Loglogan
Ni Waday.
“Masarap, murang-mura at malinis pa! Kaya binabalik-balikan
naming ito. Kahit malayo sa amin. Aprub!” wika ni Ginoong
Win Baloloy at Gng. Honorina Baloloy, mag-asawang dumarayo
pa galing sa malayong barangay ng Fidel Surtida, Sto. Domingo,
Albay.
Sa paglago ng Loglogan Ni Waday ay masasabing totoo nga
na malaking tulong ang mga livelihood programs ng gobyerno
lalo na kung ito ay mapupunta sa kamay ng karapat-dapat. Ito
ang naging pangunahing basehan ni Barangay Chairwoman
Ofelia Balunso ng Barangay Market Site, Sto. Domingo, Albay sa
pagrerekomenda niya sa mag-asawang Balunso para sa Nego kart
Project ng DOLE.
“Mahirap maghanap ng benepisaryo sa livelihood. Hindi mo
alam kung seseryosuhin o isasalaula. Maraming nagsasabi sakin
na bakit daw ang ibang barangay madaming nirerequest sa DOLE
pero dito sa Market Site konti lang. Ang dahilan ay ayaw kong
mapahiya sa oras na walang mangyari sa livelihood. Sa akin,
kahit isa lang at kahit hindi ko kadikit bastat nakita ko na maayos,
walang bisyo at desidido sa buhay, yan ang irerekomenda ko dahil
Each SME for an STCW Course is given
a pedagogic expert for the review and
revision. The five parts of the course
plans were appraised if they satisfy
the minimum standards of the STCW
Code and the requirements issued by
MARINA STCW Office.
The review and revision of NMP‘s
STCW courses are supplemental efforts
initiated to execute the policy agreed by
the NMP Board of Trustees headed by
Labor Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz in steering the NMP to apply for
accreditation as a training center and
on its training courses and trainers and
assessors with then Maritime Training
Council (MTC) and now, MARINA
STCWO.
This is in accordance with the
implementation of RA 10635 and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations
establishing MARINA as the single
maritime administration in the country
responsible for the implementation and
enforcement of the 1978 International
Convention of STCW for Seafarers, as
amended, and international agreements
or covenants related thereto. With this
law, MARINA became responsible for
the recognition and approval of maritime
education and training (MET) programs
that are compliant as prescribed under
the STCW Convention.
ayaw kong mapahiya sa DOLE at para makaulit pa.” giit ni Brgy.
Chair Ofelia B.
Lalo pang sumikat ang “Loglogan Ni Waday” ng ito, kasama
ang DOLE-Bicol, ay mai-feature ng Bombo Radyo Legazpi nitong
nakaraang Oktubre sa programang “Negosyo at Trabaho” ni
Bombo Kim Reolo. Sa katunayan, dalawang malalaking stasyon
pa ng radyo at telebisyon ang nagpahiwatig ng interes at nakipag
ugnayan sa DOLE-Bicol upang masusog ang storya ng Loglogan
Ni Waday bilang isang success story ng Nego Kart Project.
“Matagal na talaga kaming naghahanap ng kwento na galing
sa Nego Kart dahil ang daming pinamigay ng DOLE dito. Gusto
naming malaman kung ano na ang nangyari sa mga kariton.
Natutuwa kami na at least eto may isa na talagang umasenso”
paliwanag ni Bombo Kim.
Sa ngayon ay nag-iipon na ang pamilya Balunso ng kaunting
halaga mula sa araw-araw na kita para pambili ng sarili nilang
bahay. “Maraming maraming salamat po DOLE sa inyo nagsimula
ang lahat-lahat”, ang napapaluhang sambit ni Ate Malou at Kuya
Cesar.
“Bagamat ang buhay ay puno ng pagsubok at paghihirap,
wag na wag susuko, ika nga hindi kailanman nagtatagumpay
ang umaayaw. Gayahin ang kwento ng Loglogan ni Waday na
umunlad mula sa isang simpleng nego kart na ngayon ay isa ng
malaki at asensadong restaurant” pagtatapos ni DOLE Bicol
regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra.
October 2014
7
S
“Loglogan ni Waday”
to. Domingo, Albay“Pag
binigyan ka ng tulong ng
gobyerno, palaguin mo, wag na
wag sasayangin”, ani ni Gng. Marilou
“Ate Malou” Balunso, 37-yrs. old,
isa sa limang naging benepisaryo
ng Negosyo Sa Kariton o “Nego
Kart” ng Department of Labor and
Employment Regional Office No. V
(DOLE-Bicol) limang taon na ang
nakalilipas.
Sa limang naging benepisaryo
ng Nego Kart sa maliit na bayan ng
Sto. Domingo, Albay noong taong
2009, ang “Loglogan ni Waday” ang
masasabing nag-iisang lumago at
yumabong. Ito marahil ay dahil na din
sa pagsisikap, pasensya, pagtitiyaga at
pagpapahalaga ng pamilya Balunso
sa tulong na ipinagkaloob sa kanila
ng gobyerno.
Ang dating kariton, ngayon ay
isa ng malaki at sikat na restaurantkainan sa Bayan ng Sto. Domingo sa
lalawigan ng Albay.
“Naalala ko noon walang gustong
magpa utang samin kasi daw wala
naman kaming pambayad. Kahit P100
ayaw talaga kaming pautangin. Pero
ngayon halos lahat ata ng Bombay
pumupunta dito at nag aalok ng pautang. Sabi namin salamat na lang”
maluha-luha ngunit nakangiting kwento ni Ate Malou.
Kung noon nasa kanto ng isang eskinita sa harap ng isang luma
at sira-sirang bahay sa kalye ng Brgy. Market Site, Sto. Domingo,
Albay, nagtitinda ng barbecue ang mag- asawang “Ate Malou” at
“Kuya Cesar”, ngayon ay may sarili na silang pwestong inuupahan
ng P1,890.00 kada buwan sa 2nd floor ng Sto. Domingo, Public
Market.
Kung noon ang gamit ng mag-asawa sa pag ba-barbecue ay isang
maliit na lamesa na gawa sa tirang coco lumber na pinulot mula sa
isang construction site, isang lumang chicken wire at kapirasong
yero na binuong parang kahon para may masabing grill, ngayon ay
mayroon na silang dalawang gas stove.
“Ni hindi nga ako marunong magsindi ng gas stove noon.
Siguro mga isang lingo pa bago ko na master magsindi ng gas stove
na bigay ng DOLE kase nga po uling lang ang alam kong gamitin
at yung durog pa,” masayang pagbabalik-tanaw ni Ginoong Eros
Ceasar “Kuya Cesar” Balunso, 35-yrs old, asawa ni “Ate Malou”.
“Siguro naikot namin ang buong sentro ng Sto. Domingo sa
pagpapalipat-lipat ng pwesto kasi nga ipinagtatabuyan kami dahil
side walk vendor nga lang. Pag sinisita kami sa pwesto bibitbitin
namin lahat tapos lipat. Nagkakanda-paso kami kasi mainit yung
uling. Ganun po ang buhay namin. Talagang napakahirap,” sambit
ni Ate Malou habang ipinapakita ang mga naghilom na paso sa
kamay.
Ani ng mag asawa, nagsimulang mabago ang
kapalaran ng kanilang pamilya dahil sa tulong
ng gobyerno partikular ang DOLE Nego Kart
Project. Dito dumating ang lahat ng “swerte nila
sa buhay”. Dahil sa Nego Kart, hindi na sila
nakikipag-patintero sa pwesto at sa mga opsiyal
ng munisipyo bagkus ay naging “lehitimo” ang
kanilang maliit na negosyo.
“Natuto kaming kumilos nang mabilis. Pati yun
mga bata tinuruan na naming tumulong. Noong
naisipan naming magdagdag ng lutuin na loglog,
yung mga bata ang taga-pwesto. Alam na nila
ang gagawin paggising sa umaga bago pumasok
at pagdating galing eskwela. May kanya-kanya
Nego Kart
na naging
Restaurant
na silang toka. Ayaw man namin
silang pagtrabahuhin pero wala po
kaming magagawa basta hindi naman
napapabayaan
yung
pag-aaral,”
paliwanag ni Kuya Cesar.
Mula sa Nego Kart at kalahating
kilong pansit loglog ay unti-unting
umasenso at nakaraos ang pamilya.
Sa pagdagdag ng kanilang kita ay
naglakas-loob ang mag-asawang
Balunso na kumuha ng pwesto sa
Public Market na kanilang sinimulan
nito lamang Pebrero 1, 2014. Sa
paglipat sa bagong pwesto ay lalong
lumago ang negosyo kung saan
ngayon ay bulto-bulto ng pansit loglog
ang iniluluto at nauubos araw-araw.
Ang kanilang limang anak na sina
Renzo June, 15 yrs. old at 4th yr. high
school, Junela, 14 yrs. old at Grade
8, John John-12 yrs. old at Grade 7,
Yanie, 10 yrs.old – Grade 5 at EmEm-9yrs.old at Grade 4, ang unang
nabiyayaan sa pag-angat ng buhay ng
pamilya Balunso.
“Hindi po kami makabili ng gusto
naming pagkain at laruan noon.
Bihira din po kaming maglaro kasi
po kailangan tumulong. Ngayon po
nabibili na naming ang gusto namin at
pwede ng maglaro kahit anong oras,”
sabi ni Yanie, 10-yrs. old at isang
Grade 5 pupil.
Kung dati hindi makapaglaro ng basta-basta ang limang anak,
ngayon pwedeng-pwede na dahil mayroon ng dalawa (2) hanggang
talong (3) katulong o waiter ang “Loglogan Ni Waday”. Nakabili
na din sila ng Personal Computer at iba pang mga “latest” na
kasangkapan.
Ang dating pinagtatabuyang street vendor na nagkakasya sa
mga “tirang” gamit, ngayon ay “employer” na.
“Ay yung mga waiter po namin kung minsan tatlo kung minsan
dalawa. Dito na sila natutulog stay-in, libre lahat matagal na sila
dito simula pagbukas namin nitong restaurant. Kung ano po ang
kinakain namin yun din ang kinakain nila. Parang ka pamilya din
lang,” sabi ni Ate Malou.
Hindi lamang ang pamilya Balunso ang nagtamasa ng biyaya
sa pag-angat ng kanilang pamumuhay bagkus pati ibang tao.
Bilang ganti sa “swerteng” dumating sa kanilang buhay, ang
mga kinukuhang waiter sa “Loglogan Ni Waday” ay galling sa
malalayong barangay ng Sto. Domingo, Albay na kadalasan ay
siya ring inaasahan ng kanilang pamilya.
“Mabait po sina Ate. Nagpapasalamat po ako na nakapasok
ako dito kasi ako po ang inaasahan ng pamilya namin. Mahirap
po maghanap ng trabaho at mas mahirap maghanap ng mabait na
amo. Kaya po pinagbubutihan ko ang trabaho para mas dumami
ang customer namin,” ani Ariel Escaluche, waiter
20-yrs. old taga San Isidro, Sto. Domingo, Albay
at isang taon nang naninilbihan sa Loglogan Ni
Waday.
Dahil na din sa linamnam at kakaibang lasa ng
ordinary at special loglog sabayan pa ng ma-anghang
na home-made chili sauce na mismong ang magasawa ang nag eksperemento at nakakaalam ng
sekreto sa pagluluto, dagdag pa ang murang presyo
na P12.00 sa regular at P35.00 sa special loglog,
kaya dinarayo ang Loglogan Ni Waday.
Dahil dito ang puhunan na bigay ng DOLEBicol ay na-triple kung saan ang kita ay umaabot sa
na humigit-kumulang P5,000.00 kada araw.
Sundan sa pahina 7