DOLE helps workers affected by Typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”

Heeding the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for all government agencies to provide assistance and relief to areas heavily affected by Typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”, the Depart of Labor and Employment (DOLE) created the DOLE Crisis Response Team to expedite the necessary interventions and assistance particularly the Ondoy-affected workers in the private sector and informal sector as well as as affected OFW families, and other needy individuals.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque has issued DOLE Administrative Order No. 324, Series of 2009, creating the Crisis Response Team and was ordered to work fast in providing short-term and emergency wage employment to severely affected workers, particularly those who los their income and livelihood not only due to “ondoy” but also those affected by “Pepeng.”

Emergency Employment

Roque said the emergency employment program will assist at least 1,450 workers in the National Capital Region (NCR), and Regions 3 (Central Luzon) and 4-A (Calabarzon). He said DOLE personnel in the three regions have been mobilized to identify target beneficiaries in the typhoon-damaged areas in the three regions in coordination with concerned local government units (LGUs).

Due to the onslaught brought about by Typhoon “Pepeng” in the northern part of the country, the Labour Secretary has ordered the expansion of the provision of emergency wage employment and other assistance to workers in areas hardest hit by “Pepeng.”

Roque has also mobilized DOLE personnel in Regions 1 (Ilocos), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and 2 (Cagayan) to identify target beneficiaries in the typhoon-damaged areas in linkage with the local government units (LGUs) in these areas.

The program basically facilitates, through the LGUs, emergency employment to the victims particularly in clearing and de-clogging operations and reconstruction efforts like repairs of damaged infrastractures such as school buildings, day care center, drainage, irrigation system, and others.

Deployment of nurses

Roque had also directed the immediate deployment of 40 nurses under the DOLE’s Project NARS (Nurses Assigned in Rural Service) to bolster healthcare and wellness in critically affected barangays in NCR. He also ordered the DOLE’s Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA), complemented by the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), to activate communication teams to link up OFWs and their affected families, in calamity-hit areas in the country.

In response to the devastating effects of both typhoons “Ondyong” and “Pepeng”, the Labor and Employment Chief also encouraged employers in the affected areas, particularly the private industries and companies, to exercise compassion and flexibility, and extend affected workers under their employ with financial, food and other humanitarian assistance possible.

In a bid to hasten the rehabilitation of heavily damaged schools following the devastation wrought by the two typhoons, the DOLE has mobilized the coopertion of maritime agencies in the conduct of cleaning/clearing operations in priority public schools in Metro Manila identified by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Clean-up drive

Roque said cadets in maritime agencies such as Magsaysay Lines, NYK-Fil, Barko International, and the Philippine Association of Maritime Schools (PMAS) have cleaned classrooms in affected schools. They also assist in the distribution of cleaning aids and tools, such as shovels, mops, rakes, pails, dust pans, soaps, and disinfectants.

Loan facility

The labor secretary also said that a special financing facility has been activated for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose hard-earned public utility vehicles or “PUVs” – used productively for the livelihood of their families back home – have been severely damaged due to the recent calamities that hit the Philippines.

Roque indicated that the facility has been made possible by no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, with the Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB) offering the assistance, in linkage with DOLE’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NCRO), and OFW Family Circle cooperatives. –Philippine Star