Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. Jay Morales/Malacañang Photo Bureau/File photo
MANILA, Philippines—Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has given the green light for the release of funds to temporarily hire flood-displaced workers in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and other areas in Region IV-A who were severely affected by Tropical Storm “Maring.”
In the NCR, 5,544 displaced workers and 690 livelihoods that need restoration have been identified as recipients of the Department of Labor and Employment’s emergency employment program.
The cities of Malabon, Pateros, Marikina, Pasay, Muntinlupa and Parañaque, which cover 48 barangays, have been placed under a state of calamity, according to the DOLE-NCR.
The DOLE will release P11,850,000 for the salaries of the workers who will do rehabilitation work, specifically clearing, cleaning and unclogging drains and waterways.
Those who lost their livelihood have been allotted a total of P862,500 from the DOLE’s Livelihood Restoration Program (DILP).
On the other hand, local government units and their respective Public Employment Service Offices (Pesos) will provide a 20-percent counterpart fund amounting to P2,100,000 in the form of tools, equipment, T-shirts, meals and other administrative costs.
Baldoz said the DOLE aims to give the displaced workers relief from the calamity by giving them an income and, at the same time, enlisting them in the rehabilitation, clearing and cleaning of their own communities.
“While they help rebuild their communities through their services, we want them to earn money so they will have something for their families. We understand that apart from rehabilitating their communities, they too have to rebuild their lost homes and shattered lives,” she said.
Baldoz said the DOLE regional directors in Central Luzon (Region III) and Calabarzon (Region IV-A) had been instructed to fast-track the list-up of displaced and affected workers, which would determine how many more could be given emergency employment.
Initially, some 4,000 workers in the two regions were identified as eligible for the emergency employment program.
“The regional offices are still updating their assessment of the effect of the floods on workers and establishments, so the number may still change,” Baldoz said.
DOLE Regional Office 3 reported that so far Pampanga had the highest number of distressed workers at 1,450 in 187 affected barangays.
Baldoz instructed the regional directors to upload the names of the beneficiaries on their websites for transparency.
In addition to the emergency employment program, the DOLE regional officers will also conduct job fairs. “We will prioritize workers who were victims of the recent calamity,” said Baldoz.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government units concerned are closely monitoring the distribution of food packs, bottled water and other relief items to make sure they go to the rightful beneficiaries.
Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman ordered the strict monitoring to avoid confusion and abuse.
Soliman said the DSWD’s Local Welfare and Development Offices were using the Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (Dafac) to register affected families and list the types of assistance provided them.
“The Dafac is one way to monitor if a family is underserved or overserved,” she said. “It confirms that a family is a victim of disaster and is eligible to receive relief assistance.”
As of Saturday, 70,818 family food packs worth P17.7 million had been distributed to 66 local government units, with an additional 6,395 packs to be given out today. Also, 99,088 bottles of purified water were distributed to 28 LGUs in NCR and Region III.
Likewise, 58,676 family food packs worth P14.67 million and other relief items worth P89.87 million are being earmarked by the DSWD for affected LGUs in the NCR, CAR, Regions I, III, IV-A and IV-B, if needed.
Donor help desks have been set up in DSWD regional offices to process and receive donations in cash and in kind.