Palace to DOLE: Give assistance to ABS-CBN workers who will lose jobs

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday said it will suggest that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) put up a one-stop-shop at the ABS-CBN compound where employees who will be retrenched can seek government assistance.

ABS-CBN has announced it will stop the operation of some of its businesses and lay off workers by the end of August after failing to get a new franchise from Congress.

“Siguro ang gagawin ko, kokontakin ko si [DOLE] Secretary [Silvestre] Bello [III] and I will encourage him to open a one-stop shop doon siguro sa ABS-CBN to assist those who will be retrenched,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

(Maybe what I will do is to contact Secretary Bello and encourage him to open a one-stop shop in ABS-CBN to assist those who will be retrenched.)

“Dahil iba naman ang circumstance sa ABS-CBN talaga. Wala silang prangkisa at mawawalan sila ng trabaho. Rather than sila ang pupunta sa mga government agencies, I will just suggest magpadala na lang ng one-stop shop,” he added.

(ABS-CBN’s circumstances are different, they lost their franchise and they will lose their jobs. Instead of their employees going to government agencies, I will just suggest that a one-stop shop be established there.)

Roque said ABS-CBN employees who will lose their jobs can avail of programs meant to alleviate the effects of the pandemic offered by various government agencies.

The House committee on legislative franchises earlier denied granting ABS-CBN a new congressional franchise to resume its operations.

The network has been off the air since May 5.

/MUF