DOLE-RO1 sets priority programs
December 21-22, 2010 - The Depart-ment of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 conducted its Year-End Performance Assessment (YEPA), particularly to appraise the areas where the Department excelled, as well as to determine the weak points which need improvement.
Anchored on Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s commitment towards transforma-
tional leadership, DOLE-RO1 has taken steps to contribute in great leaps to-wards this end through its programs and services carved and drafted through thorough planning and target setting to meet the needs of Filipino workers. For 2011, DOLE-RO1 has lined-up its priority programs and services along the lines of improving productivity, strengthening tripartite consultation with social partners leading to indus-trial peace, addressing jobs mismatch Turn to page 3
After the completion of its Emergency Employ-ment Program, the De-partment of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 reports that it has successfully helped 1,392 workers recover from the havoc wrought by last year’s super ty-phoon Juan. For the period October 2010 to first week of January 2011, the DOLE 1 facilitated the employment of affected workers in infrastruc-ture projects initiated by local government units identified to be worst hit by the typhoon. The workers’ salaries, which
are equivalent to the minimum hiring rates of the LGUs, were drawn from the DOLE. “Once again we have succeeded in protecting our most disadvanta-geous workers from the debilitating effects of a natural calamity through our safety nets,” DOLE 1 Director Henry John Jalbuena said. Jalbuena said the EEP concretizes President Benigno S. Aquino III’s thrust to transform gov-ernment anti-poverty programs that instill dole-out mentality to
Emergency employment helps worker victims survive Juan
well-considered programs that build ca-pacity and create opportunities among the poor and the marginalized in the country.
“For this EEP, the DOLE has disbursed a total amount of P7.1 million repre-senting the workers’ salaries for a 30-day period. It was sufficient to help them recover from the calamity, and get back to normal lives,” Jalbuena said. Turn to page 4
Volume 2 Issue 1 JANUARY 2011
Taking off from our gains
last year, we look at the
year 2011 with greater
resolve to fulfill the labor
reforms which, through
the cooperation of our
partners, we have started
under President Benigno
S. Aquino III’s platform of
good governance.
Set against a backdrop of
transformational leadership, we have fashioned
our priority programs and thrusts for calendar
year 2011 to fit our goals of increasing produc-
tivity; creating quality employment opportuni-
ties and boosting employment; achieving indus-
trial peace within the context of social justice;
elevating working standards; and instituting re-
forms in labor case disposition.
The strategies which will be used are still part of
our wide-ranging and far-reaching labor and
employment platform we have initiated in the
last half of year 2010 to dignify the Filipino
workforce.
Foremost in our productivity agenda is the pro-
posed two-tiered wage fixing system which is
now the subject of deliberations and multi-
sectoral consultations.
In response to employment concerns in the re-
gion, we will intensify the implementation of our
Skills Registry System (SRS) and Career and
Employment Coaching (CEC); advocate among
stakeholders the results of the Project Jobs Fit;
strengthen relationship among private, PESO
and other entities on job facilitation; and con-
tinue institutionalization of PESOs in local gov-
ernment units.
We seek to further strengthen tripartism as a
key to promoting industrial peace and elevating
working standards. With tripartite cooperation,
we will strive to encourage all industries in the
region to formulate and adopt voluntary code of
good practices. The code will empower indus-
tries to observe self-regulation on matters af-
fecting labor, employment, social and economic
issues, thus, enabling them to set flexible rules
which are beneficial to both.
To institute reforms in labor case disposition,
Turn to page 4
Editorial Board Dir. Henry John S. Jalbuena
Editorial Technical Consultant
Arly Sta. Ana-Valdez
Editor-In-Chief
Contributors:
Jeridee C. Orate
Agnes B. Aguinaldo
Fredderick L. Gaerlan
Rommel Ioannis E. Mendoza
Violeta J. Buenaventura
Mary Aurea de Jesus
Leonavella S. Dadiz
Layout and Design:
Jennelyn S. Malong
1 DOLE Gazette is the official monthly publication of the Depart-
ment of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1, with address at
the Arnel Bldg., Mabini St., Catbangen, City of San Fernando, La
Union. Contact Details: (072)7002520; 7004371; 2421753; fax:
(072)6078114;email add: [email protected]; web-
site:ro1.dole.gov.ph
The title is a play of the Department’s name and the numeral
number 1.
The numeral number 1 signifies Region 1 and oneness of the
DOLE Regional Office 1 and its attached agencies in program
implementation.
Normally, the acronym DOLE 1 is used. However, as this newslet-
ter debuts at the dawn of a new administration’s strengthened
coherent policy and program complementation under a 22-point
labor platform, we deem it more emphatic to affix the number 1
before DOLE to represent both purposes.
THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S CORNER THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S CORNER THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S CORNER
PAGE 2 1 DOLE GAZETTE
What’s Inside
About the TitleAbout the TitleAbout the Title
DOLE-RO 1 sets priority programs Emergency employment helps worker victims survive Juan
The Regional Director’s Corner 2 Editorial Board About the Title
DOLE 1, PRPAs tackle recruitment procedures 3
18,758 receive 13th month pay 5 Events
Region 1 all set for RN HEALS Calendar of activities February 2011
NCMB RB 1: Labor front generally peaceful 4
PAGE 3 1 DOLE GAZETTE
through the conduct of comprehensive employabil-ity and productivity en-hancement seminars and establishing a reliable data-base of manpower skills which will serve as a possi-ble pool of competent work-force, promotion of capacity building activities and crea-tion of livelihood opportuni-ties that will alleviate the living conditions of the un-derprivileged, reinforcing the Integrity and Efficiency Boards and adherence to the provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Act so that a stream of honest and dedi- cated public servants can be developed. DOLE-RO1 will work with much perseverance to ad-dress the needs of its client-
DOLE-RO 1 sets ... ele. With focus on the above mentioned priority deliver-ables, DOLE-RO1 will cater to the specific employment-related needs of the Ilocos Region through the imple-mentation of the Skills Reg-istry System, the conduct of Career and Employability Coaching, strengthening both private and public sec-tors i.e. PESO and employ-ers, and Jobs Fit among other regular programs relative to employment fa-cilitation. In relation to promoting harmonious employer-employee relationships, the Department will strive to work with private and labor sector to strengthen tripar-tite cooperation, hence-forth, the drafting of
Voluntary Code of Good Practices for the various industries in the Region and better compliance to labor standards. Reformed conciliation-mediation proc-esses will be implemented through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) leading to amicable settlement. In restoring integrity and fair-ness in the system through
the Integrity and Efficiency
Boards set up within the vari-
ous agencies, it is the ultimate
goal of the Department to
serve better and be better at heeding to the needs of the
real boss. - jco
DOLE 1, PRPAs tackle recruitment procedures
City of San Fernando, La Union – Representatives of licensed Private Re-cruitment and Placement Agencies and the Depart-
ment of Labor and Em-ployment-Regional Office 1 met recently to clearly define roles and proce-dures in the conduct of Special Recruitment Ac-tivities in the region. “The event is the first of a series of consultation-dialogues which the DOLE 1 plans to organize, to concretize our commit-ments to the Aquino ad-ministration’s goal of eradicating human traf-ficking and illegal recruit-ment,” Regional Director
Henry John Jalbuena said. Memorandum Circular No. 17, series 2002 and Depart-ment Order No. 7, series of
2002 were revisited to en-sure that all principal ac-tors have a shared under-standing of the step-by-step activities to be undertaken for the holding of SRAs. Jalbuena added that the undertaking is done in light of prioritizing the protection and promotion of Overseas Filipino Workers’ welfare, which is also foremost in the President’s labor agenda. “We need to create a har-monized structure and
clear-cut guidelines con-cerning the recruitment and deployment of our Filipino workers to afford them qual-ity overseas employment op-
portunities and total care. Every concerned agency will be enjoined to support this endeavor,” Jalbuena said. Among the areas of concern are the following: 1) strict observance of the prescribed periods and requirements in the conduct of pre/post-recruitment activities; 2) reportorial requirements; 3) close monitoring system among involved agencies; 4) individual roles of stake-holders. The possibility of organizing the recruitment agencies was also explored to further strengthen partnership be-tween and among them and the government in providing comprehensive services to OFWs, including their fami-lies. - asv
RCC UpdatesRCC Updates
PAGE 4 1 DOLE GAZETTE
NCMB RB 1: labor front generally peaceful
The National Conciliation and
Mediation Board-Regional
Branch 1 has reported its ac-complishments for the past
year, emphasizing that these
have been achieved through its
intensified flagship programs
focused on strengthening col-
laboration with social partners as outlined in President Benigno
S. Aquino III’s Labor Reform
Agenda.
NCMB-RB 1 Director Carmina B. Alonzo said their office is pro-
moting unorthodox initiatives to
help in re-engineering moral re-
covery program for workplace
productivity and profitability.
This has resulted in a generally
peaceful situation in establish-
ments in the region.
Alonzo said that in Workplace
Cooperation and Partnership,
the Branch facilitated 367% ac-
complishment for unionized es-
tablishments and 267% accom-
plishment for non-unionized es-tablishments.
“For Workplace Disputes and
Settlement activities, the Branch
achieved 104% performance in the unionized companies and
150% in non-unionized compa-
nies,” she said.
Alonzo said that social dialogues
and alliance with Region 1 in-
dustrial practitioners has
brought the strengthening and
enhancement of plant-level
mechanisms, i.e. 135% for un-ionized companies and 165% for
non-unionized companies.
The Branch was also able to forge agreements with LMC –
GM advocates, Local Association
of Accredited Voluntary Arbitra-
tors, the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines, the academe and
National Labor Relations Com-
mission as a multi-partite ven-ture, yielding a 125% accom-
plishment in mainstreaming pro
-active framework for genuine
industry harmonious relations
and expedient labor dispute
resolution mechanism.
“We have also achieved 100%
disposition rate of all concilia-
tion-mediation cases; preventive
mediation cases were disposed within 5.93 days from date of
filing from the 22 days target; a
200% performance rate on vol-
untary arbitration cases was
accomplished with 10 days dis-
position from the date of filing; notice of strike case was dis-
posed within eighteen (18) days
from date of filing viz – a – viz
the 29 days target of disposi-
tion,” Alonzo said, adding that their office was able to deliver a
110% performance under the
Single Entry Approach (SENA).
She also reported that a total of
eighty-eight (88) technical as-sistance were rendered to walk-in clientele and 131 companies reached through advocacy and networking; while a 173% performance was achieved in terms of trainings and seminars.
“Compounding all the enu-merated accomplishments, we could not have been more effective and efficient without the collective support of all the stakeholders in the in-dustry sharing their talents, skills and resources to make our tasks lighter,” Alonzo said, adding:
“NCMB – RB I multiplied our value to our clientele in the
unionized and non-unionized sectors, as we were inspired to articulate profes-sionalism and excellent pub-lic service in our pursuit to
give quality and speedy deliv-ery of our functions under the mantle of our self-imposed creed that we do our job with excellence.” - w/ Ce-
sar D. Cacayuran
Emergency employment . . .
He reported that the beneficiar-
ies are distributed among the
following provinces: Pangasinan (942); La Union (250); Ilocos Sur
(100); and Ilocos Norte (100).
The identification of recipient
municipalities were done using data and information supplied
by the Department of Agricul-
ture, Office of Civil Defense and
other concerned agencies. - asv
The Regional Director’s . . .
our Single-Entry Approach
affords speedy, impartial, in-
expensive and accessible set-
tlement of issues arising from
employer-employee relations
by encouraging amicable set-
tlement within a 30-day man-
datory mediation-conciliation
period.
These reforms will not come
easily, especially in light of nu-
merous factors that have sub-
stantial impact on our labor
and employment conditions.
But we at the Department will
make every effort to place the
Filipino worker in equal footing
with global standards enjoyed
by workers of other nations.
PAGE 5 1 DOLE GAZETTE
18,758 workers receive 13th month pay
The measures being un-dertaken by the Depart-ment of Labor and Em-ployment-Regional Office 1 to exact compliance with the 13th month pay law are now paying off as compliance reports from employers have begun to flood its Field Offices. Initial reports show that 18,758 workers have been paid their 13th month pay in the total amount of P127,340,623.89. This positive response from employers in the region is attributed to the intensi-fied advocacy conducted by the DOLE 1 as early as November last year.
Last year, Labor Chief Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz directed all DOLE Regional Offices to under-take steps to elicit compli-ance and “to report on the extent or the number of complaints from workers about the non-payment of the 13th month pay.” Jalbuena said the DOLE, through its six Field Of-fices, continues to moni-tor and exact compliance with the 13th month pay law. The 13th month pay is mandatory pursuant to PD 851. - asv
“We have leveled up our tri-media advocacy to en-join all employers to com-ply with the 13th month pay law. Aside from this, our Office had sent re-minders to all establish-ments to submit their compliance reports,” Jal-buena said. He added that only three complaints about non-payment of the 13th month pay had been re-ceived by the DOLE 1, and these are now being conciliated-mediated un-der its 30-day mandatory Single Entry Approach (SENA).
EVENTS
All systems go. Region 1 will proceed with the RN HEALS as planned, as members of the Regional and Provincial Project Management Teams finalized the project implementa-tion details in a meeting held recently at the Max’s Restaurant, City of San Fernando, La Union. DOLE 1 Director Henry John Jalbuena (inset) said the RN HEALS is one of government’s responses to the problem on the glut of inexperienced and unemployed nurses who are even forced to pay “volunteer fees” just to be able to gain experience in hospitals. The DOLE 1, as the chair of the previous Project NARS, recommended for the extension/expansion of the project to reach out to more unemployed nurses. Under a new name and chairmanship, the project will again deploy 10,000 nurses nationwide to en-hance their learnings in both public and clinical settings.
For the modern day heroes. As part of its expanded protection program for migrant workers, the DOLE 1 takes steps to ensure quality overseas employment opportunities and safe working conditions for Overseas Filipino Workers and their families. Photo shows Ms. Teresa Bonavente, Officer-In-Charge of the Technical Services Support Divi-
sion (top left photo), and Ms. Bernadette May Mamitag, Senior Labor and Employment Officer (bottom right photo), meeting with representatives of various Private Recruitment and Placement Agencies in the region to im-prove recruitment procedures and explore possibilities of
organizing them to be able to further assist OFWs.
JANUARY 2011 1 DOLE GAZETTE
Region 1 all set for RN Heals City of San Fernando, La Union - It’s
all systems go for the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and
Local Service for Region 1 after the Regional Office of the Department of
Labor and Employment and its part-
ners finalized its implementation de-tails.
Recently, members of the Regional
and Provincial Project Management Teams on RN Heals met to agree on
the schedule of activities, logistical
requirements and to firm up commit-ments to be able to proceed with the
project as planned by the National Project Management Team.
In attendance during the meeting were representatives of the Depart-
ment of Health-Center for Health Development; Department of Social
Welfare and Development; Depart-
ment of the Interior and Local Gov-ernment; Professional Regulation
Commission; Philippine Nurses Asso-ciation; DOLE-Regional Office 1, and
the provincial counterparts of the
DOH.
As the lead agency, the DOH-CHD will be mobilizing its provincial coun-
terparts to hold simultaneous provin-cial pre-deployment orientations on
February 11-12.
“As scheduled, the deployment of
nurses will be on February 14,” DOLE 1 Director Henry John Jalbuena said.
Out of the 10,000 nurses who will be
deployed nationwide, 522 have been allocated for Region 1.
Accord-
ding to Jalbuena, the official list of
successful nurse applicants will be posted in the DOLE website on Feb-
ruary 8.
“At the close of the registration pe-
riod, we will be ready with our short- list of qualified applicants, and on
February 5 and 6, interviews will be conducted at the DOLE Regional Of-
fice to validate information supplied by the applicants in their registration
forms,” Jalbuena added.
The DOLE is the lead agency in the
recruitment activities for the project. As part of this function, it is respon-
sible in receiving applications and
screening nurse applicants for train-ing. - asv
Calendar of ActivitiesCalendar of ActivitiesCalendar of Activities February 2011February 2011February 2011
1 1 1 Regional and Provincial Project
Management Teams Organiza-
tional Meeting on RN Heals,
Max’s Restaurant, City of San Fer-
nando, La Union
4 Panel Interview of applicants for
OSH Accreditation, DOLE-RO1
Conference Room, City of San Fer-
nando, La Union
5-6 Interview of shortlisted applicants
for the RN Heals, DOLE-RO 1,
City of San Fernando, La Union
7 Employment promotion and man
power development
8 Board Meeting
RTWPB-R1, City of San Fernando,
La Union
Posting of List of Successful RN
Heals Applicants
11-12 Simultaneous Provincial Predeploy-
ment Orientation of RN Heals bene
ficiaries
14 Deployment of RN Heals nurse-
beneficiaries
16 Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace
Council Meeting, Max’s Restaurant,
City of San Fernando, La Union
21-22 Strategic Planning Workshop
Cozy Place Resort, Rosales, Pangasinan
21-24 DOLE-Wide Corporate Planning Exercises
Canyon Cove, Nasugbu, Batangas
22 Budget Consultation and Review with the Re
gional Development Council-Regl. Development
Budget Coordinating Committee
NEDA-R1, City of San Fernando, La Union
24 RDC Annual State of the Region Conference
Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union
“I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an op-portunity to make a living.” - John D. Rockefeller