'Sendong' survivors in CDO, Iligan get P10-M emergency employment help

Published December 22, 2011 9:20am

The Department of Labor and Employment is releasing P10 million to extend emergency employment assistance to survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi), especially in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in northern Mindanao.

In a statement released by the Official Gazette on Tuesday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz was reported to have ordered the DOLE’s Financial Management Service to immediately release the amount to the department's Regional Office 10.

Baldoz said workers displaced from the closures of firms and establishments in the region will qualify for the package of assistance.

Baldoz also directed DOLE Region 10 Regional Director Allan Macaraya to compose a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) to assess the damage Sendong caused in the region.

The QRT seeks to assist workers displaced by closures and retrenchments of companies due to various reasons, including natural calamities. Its assistance includes:

Profiling of displaced workers;
Employment guidance and counseling;
Facilitation of payment of separation pay;
Employment matching and referral for wage employment (using available facilities, such as the PhilJobnet and jobs fair;
Information on and certification for SSS loan availment;
Referral to other DOLE programs; and
Referral of qualified displaced workers to other government and non-government organizations for technical and financial assistance for livelihood or self-employment.

Baldoz also said several programs under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program can be made available to victims of Sendong.

These include:

Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD), where workers in the affected areas are engaged in community and rural rehabilitation work specifically in de-clogging, clearing, and cleaning of communities, schools, and evacuation centers, and
Nego Kart or Negosyo sa Kariton and Kabuhayan Starter Kits, the DOLE’s livelihood enhancement program consisting of a package of services that will enable the target beneficiaries to quickly start livelihood undertaking and become self-employed to recover lost incomes.

Help for Sendong-hit DOLE employees

Baldoz also urged DOLE officials and employees to donate foodstuff, canned goods, noodles, clothing, and other necessary relief assistance to 21 of 76 DOLE employees in the region rendered homeless by the floods.

She designated DOLE Administrative Service Director Lily Pearl Guerrero as focal person for the material donations and FMS Director Nenette Garcia as focal person for financial donations.

Also, she approved the monetization of leave credits of affected DOLE employees which they may file immediately in their respective offices. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: sendong, stormsendong, dole