DOLE CHIEF RELEASES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 1K WORKERS IN CARAGA

Over a thousand informal sector and displaced workers received financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Caraga region during the visit of Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” H. Bello III.

A total of 396 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program from the municipality of Tubay and Cabadbaran City received P1,420,800.00 representing P4,800.00 salary for each worker for 15 days of actual emergency work rendered. Aside from the TUPAD payout, livelihood assistance were also released to Jaliobong Masipag Farmers Association (JMFA) for its Organic Fertilizer Production project amounting to P707,078.00 and Zapanta Mamanwa Manobo Association (ZAMMA), Zapanta Valley Bisaya Organization (ZABOR), and Zapanta Valley Farmers Association (ZAVAFA) for their Bangayan Sustainable Livelihood Project amounting to P995,320.00. Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also assisted Secretary Bello in the release of P130,000.00 to 10 returning Overseas Filipino Workers under the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanap Buhay program. In Butuan City, a total of P2,536,200.00 was released to 534 workers under the TUPAD emergency employment program, and P996,888.00 DOLE livelihood grant to Farmers for Peace Association. Bello extended P571,000.00 worth of OWWA scholarships and livelihood assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers and their dependents in the city. “Ako ay nandito sa Caraga upang iparating sa inyo ang tulong ng

ating gobyerno. Kagaya ng sinabi ng ating Pangulo Rodrigo Roa Duterte, ang pera na nasa pangangalaga ng gobyerno ay pera ng taong bayan, kaya dapat ito ay ibalik sa taong bayan (I am in Caraga to extend government assistance. As President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said, the funds under the care of the government are owned by the people and must be returned to the people),” said Sec. Bello, in his message. The labor chief committed to provide additional emergency employment and livelihood assistance to the informal and displaced workers in Butuan and Agusan del Norte.

On its mandate to maintain industrial peace, DOLE cited mining firms Agata Mining Ventures Incorporated, Hinatuan Mining Corporation, and Taganito Mining Corporation as regional winners of the 2021 Search for Outstanding Labor Management Council (LMC). Some 30 business establishments in the region were also certified compliant to the minimum public health standards set by the government. The labor secretary bestowed Safety Seal certificates to four companies in the mining industry, 12 in manufacturing, 13 in construction, and 1 in the utilities industry. The awarding ceremonies in Butuan City and Cabadbaran City were graced by Undersecretary for Employment Renato L. Ebarle, Undersecretary for Labor Relations Benjo Santos M. Benavidez, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac, DOLE Bureau Director Karina Perida-Trayvilla, POEA Director Ria S. Lano, Congress Representatives Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba and Lawrence “Law” Fortun, Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera, City Mayors Judy Chin Amante of Cabadbaran and Ronnie Vicente Lagnada of Butuan, Vice Mayor Jose Joboy Aquino of Butuan, and other local officials in the region. (DOLE-Caraga/ PIA-Caraga)