DOLE program employs quake victims in Bohol

The first phase of the Labor department’s emergency employment program for the earthquake victims in Bohol is off to a good start with the awarding of a check worth P3.2 million to the Bohol provincial government.

The first tranche of the Bohol Emergency Employment Program (BEEP 1) funds was handed out to Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto by Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III during the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council–Shelter and Livelihood Cluster’s Meeting in Tagbilaran City last month.

“Three hundred displaced workers from the six municipalities will benefit from the first phase of the program. The workers will work for a minimum period of 15 days in projects identified by the provincial government, and they will be paid the minimum wage of P330 per day. The workers will also be covered by GSIS insurance,” Baldoz said.

Lagunzad said the P3.2 million fund also covers the DOLE’s cash counterpart for the Special Program for Employment of Students. He said the second phase of the program or BEEP 2, which has a funding of P17.5 million, will benefit around 3,000 displaced workers in 10 badly-hit municipalities in the province.

The third phase will benefit around 800 displaced workers covering 16 areas that were covered by BEEP 1 and BEEP 2.