TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office VIII informs the public that assistance will be provided to the workers affected by the fire incident at Robinsons Place Tacloban last October 23, 2019.
In an interview with local media networks on October 28, 2019, DOLE RO VIII Assistant Regional Director Amable Ildefonso C. Roa informed that immediately the day after the fire incident, the DOLE Quick Response Team was deployed to the affected area to look into the incident particularly on the status of the tenants and workers affected.
“Since investigation was ongoing when our team visited Robinsons, we were not yet given the exact information as to the number of establishments directly affected by the incident. We have conducted interviews with the tenants and employees waiting outside the mall for us to have at least estimates”, said ARD Roa.
As a result of the interviews conducted, the DOLE-QRT was able to profile 1,137 workers from 101 establishments operating in the said mall.
As of Friday, October 25, 2019, the DOLE North Leyte Field Office has already provided orientation on the agency’s livelihood and emergency employment programs to 192 workers of the affected mall.
“We would like to call on other affected workers to visit our office within this week, if possible, so we can assist them. We have our DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP). They have the option to choose between the components of the program, livelihood assistance or emergency employment”, ARD Roa added.
Of the 192 workers, 98 signified to avail of emergency employment or Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) while the remaining 57 wanted to have their own businesses through DOLE’s livelihood or Kabuhayan program.
Workers who will choose TUPAD program will work for fifteen (15) days and receive payment equivalent to 100% of the highest prevailing private minimum wage in the region.
Meanwhile, those who signified for Kabuhayan program can avail of the Starter Kit or Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart), up to a maximum assistance of P20,000, depending on the project requirement.
Aside from DILEEP, ARD Roa also mentioned some employment facilitation programs such as Job Fair and Skills Registry System which can be of help to the displaced workers.
(NORMA RAE S. COSTIMIANO/PR)
