Over 4,000 flood victims in NCR get emergency jobs

MANILA, Philippines– Some 4,762 workers who were displaced by floods in the National Capital Region benefited from the government’s emergency employment program, according to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

She said the 4,762 workers comprise the first of the two batches of beneficiaries totaling 5,861 profiled by the Department of Labor and Employment in NCR in coordination with the local government units during the recent floods spawned by the southwest monsoon.

The beneficiaries comprising the second batch are still being profiled by their respective LGUs.

“Our goal here is to provide our displaced workers immediate relief from the calamity by giving them income, and at the same time, enlist them for the rehabilitation, clearing and cleaning of their affected communities,” said Baldoz.

She added that the DOLE has already released P7,390,500 of the P8.8 million allotted by the department for the emergency employment program.

“DOLE-NCR field offices have coordinated with the 17 LGUs through their respective Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) to profile the 5,861 beneficiaries, who were provided with short-term wage employment for the initial implementation of the emergency employment project,” Baldoz explained.

According to DOLE-NCR Regional Director Allan Macaraya, the P8.8 million will cover for the salaries of the workers who will be hired for community works like clearing operations, cleaning, sweeping and de-clogging of drainage and waterways inundated by the floods.

“While they help rebuild their community through their services, we wanted them to earn, so they will have something for their families,” Macaraya said.