DOLE readying legacy for next administration

MANILA, Philippines – With just eight months before the presidential elections, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now readying its legacy for the new administration.

Acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman said DOLE is putting in place new programs to provide decent livelihood and better conditions for workers before President Arroyo steps down in 2010.

“DOLE is working hard to put in place programs as part of our legacy to the incoming administration after the 2010 elections,” Lagman said.

DOLE initiated yesterday their “legacy programs” Speedy and Efficient Delivery of Labor Justice (SpeED), Negosyo sa Kariton, Kabuhayan Starter KITs, Green Workplace Advocacy and Job Fit.

Under the SpeEd project, DOLE hopes to attain a zero backlog of labor cases pending before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and its attached agencies.

Lagman said the project was conceptualized to streamline and monitor the disposition of labor cases and ensure that these are resolved within the prescribed period set by the department.

Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz said DOLE would not take over the function of its attached agencies, but only check on the disposition of cases and ensure that there will be zero backlog by March 2010, meaning there are no cases older than a year pending before DOLE offices.

There are currently 36,000 to 38,000 cases pending before the six DOLE line offices, and it usually takes from six to 16 months to resolve the cases.

Green Workplace Advocacy, on the other hand, aims to promote the transformation of workplaces into environmentally sensitive areas and help solve climate change as well as generate new sources of green jobs.

Starter KITs hopes to provide informal sector skills training while NegoKart will assist ambulant vendors in improving their source of livelihood. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)