In far flung Brgy. Bayabas, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, 292 members, mostly marginalized and

home-based women, of the Kooperatiba ng Pangmalawakang Paglilingkod ng Bayabas, Ink., KPPBI for short, will shortly go full-blast in the production of squash (kalabasa) puree after the cooperative received last week P250,000 in financial grant under the DOLE-DOST Convergence Program on Technology-driven, Resource-based, and Sustainable Livelihood.

In the adjacent province of Pampanga, in Pulong Camias, Brgy. San Jose, San Simon, the 70-member strong Augman Kababaihan ng San Simon, Inc. (AKSSI) will light up the community with its receipt of P250,000 in financial grant under the same program for its candle-making business.

“These are all existing community-based enterprises that need our assistance to get their livelihood going a bit faster,” said DOLE Regional Office No. 3 Director Raymundo Agravante as he, together with DOLE Bulacan Field Office Ma. Rima Hernandez and DOLE Pampanga Field Office Head Arlene Tolentino, handed out the checks to the officials of the two rural workers’ association during the launch of the program in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“Aside from the DOLE, the DOST and other line agencies provided counterpart assistance to the two community

In Central Luzon, DOLE releases P450-K to two rural workers’ associations at DOLE-DOST convergence program launch; 362 marginalized workers, mostly women, to benefit

livelihoods in the form of skills training, entrepreneurship development training, and other capability-building activities,” he added.

Agravante reported the launching to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who commended the regional office for starting in earnest the release of funds to beneficiaries in the region.

“Our goal is to strengthen social protection for vulnerable workers, and we seek to attain this through the strategy of enhancing access to emergency employment and livelihood,” said Baldoz.

“Through convergence, the DOLE facilitates and provides access to

livelihood opportunities to shield vulnerable workers and their families from risks due to natural and man-made disasters and enable them to rebuild their lives with better access to social protection and sustainable income sources,” she said.

Secretary Baldoz and DOST Secretary Mario Montejo

signed in January this year the DOLE-DOST Convergence on

Technology-Driven, Resource-Based, and Sustainable Livelihood aimed at

addressing the need for sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities through technology-based and innovation-led entrepreneurship in the country.

Under the agreement, the DOLE and DOST, with support of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, and other partners work together in a convergence program designed to assist local workers, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and victims of natural calamities in their livelihood undertakings.

“Sing-sarap ng kalabasa at sing-liwanag ng kandila. Iyan po ang handog ng DOLE, kasama ang DOST at iba pang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno. Sana po, pagyamanin natin ito upang lalong lumago ang inyong mga proyekto upang maingat ang antas ng inyong pamumuhay,” Agravante said.

Turn to page 6

DOLE Good News

� April 2014

The DOLE Good News is published by the Department of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and/or their sources and do not necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine Government’s.

Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 527-3000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com or laborcommunications@gmail.com.

EditorNICON F. FAMERONAG

Director, LCO

Associate EditorKAREN R. SERRANO

Staff WritersMARK JAIME L. CERDENIA

MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORACELESTE T. MARING

HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAYREVELITA F. LAXINASTELLA P. BAÑARES

Editorial AssistantsGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCEMADELYN D. DOMETITA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

ALLAN G. ABANILLA

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

PATRICK T. RILLORTA - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7

FLORENCE D. PANAO - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

SHERWIN B. MANUAL - Region 11

MICHELLE T. OLOG - Region 12

IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga

DOLEGood NewsThe Labor Communications Office is open to

receiving letters from readers expressing their views and comments, and/or suggestions on articles that appear on the DOLE Good News. Letters should be no more than a hundred words. Your letters will be published in succeeding issues of the DOLE Good News. Send your letters to:

Department of Labor and EmploymentLabor Communications Office6th Flr. DOLE Bldg. Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila

or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com/laborcommunications@gmail.com

If you believe in Good News,

tell us.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz praised the management and

the labor union of Bethany Hospital, a Christian health institution in San Fernando, La Union, for their maturity in agreeing to resolve their labor dispute out of the picket line.

“For listening to reason and wise counsel, for considering the greater interest of the community, and for looking at job preservation and continued hospital operation as beneficial to labor and management, I salute the management and the labor union of Bethany Hospital for settling their labor dispute without resorting to a strike which could have debilitating effects to all hospital stakeholders,” said Baldoz minutes after the officials of both the hospital’s union and management paid her a surprise visit to present to her their settlement agreement.

The amicable settlement, facilitated by the DOLE’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board through conciliator-mediator Jay Jasper Javines, was arrived at on 22 April.

Javines reported to Secretary Baldoz the following details of the amicable settlement: (a) P200 in salary increase

DOLE’s NCMB settles NOS labor dispute at Bethany Hospital through conciliation-mediation

per month per year for the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering the years 2010 to 2014 with backpay/lump sum of each rank-and-file Bethany employee retroactive 1 January 2010; (b) Agency fee of 10 percent of the total lump sum of non-union members shall be deducted by Management, and shall be remitted to the Union in the form of

a cheque, and payment shall be made to the Union one (1) month after the submission of membership ratification;

(c) The Union and Management agree to enter into a new CBA covering the years 2015-2019, and both parties agree to a salary increase of P200 per month per year. Furthermore, both parties agree to a salary increase of P200 per month per year, and all other benefits agreed during the negotiation for 2010-

2014 shall be incorporated in the new CBA 2015-2019. (d) Both the union and management shall meet to draft the final CBA for signing and registration before the DOLE. The case arose last year when the Union formally filed for Preventive Mediation before the NCMB on 17 April 2013.

Due to impasse, the PM case was elevated into a Notice of Strike, which the NCMB immediately responded to through a series of conciliation-mediation conferences.

On 17 February 2014, management presented its ultimate offer, which was followed by the Union’s action to elevate the dispute to the DOLE’s Office of the Secretary, which assigned the dispute to the Conciliation and Mediation Unit.

It took the CMU only two months to settle the dispute.

“In view of this agreement, both parties also agreed and concurred that the notice of strike filed before the NCMB

is now considered dropped and the labor dispute is considered closed and terminated,” Javines happily reported.

In commending the NCMB for this feat, Baldoz said determination and relentless effort of the parties to reconcile their differences was amply rewarded.

“Now, everyone can move on. With the agreement, harmonious industrial

LABOR DISPUTE AT BETHANY HOSPITAL SETTLED. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz joins the management and labor union head and members of Bethany Hospital, a Christian health institution in San Fernando, La Union, after amicably resolving their labor dispute at Office of the Secretary, Intramuros, Manila.

Turn to page 3

DOLE Good News

�April 2014

In 2011, Franklyn Miranda, a former factory worker who studied welding at the Technical Education

and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), received a welding machine from the Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) under its Livelihood Enhancement Assistance Program.

Making the most of what was given to him, Miranda made sure that the products he crafted were of the finest quality.

His big break came in October 2013 when he was awarded a contract by the SM Mall of Asia to decorate the mall premises in time for the Christmas season. To help him out in the contract and to spread the good opportunity, he hired 15 welders to work on the project for 45 days.

The SM Mall of Asia management was so pleased with Miranda and his team’s work that it recommended him to other SM malls. Miranda shared his story with 33 new beneficiaries of the DOLE Livelihood Enhancement Program recently, during the awarding by the DOLE-NCR CAMANAVA Field Office of a P152,620 livelihood assistance grant held at the Marulas Covered Court in Valenzuela City.

On hand to listen to him were Congressman Magi Gunigundo, Brgy. Marulas Chairman Adel Gunigundo, and the head of the DOLE-NCR CAMANAVA Field Office, Director Andrea Cabansag.

The beneficiaries, all from the informal sector, received raw materials, equipment, and supplies worth P152,620.

“This livelihood grant is essential for the beneficiaries’ chosen livelihood undertaking, such as auto mechanic repair, poultry, vegetable, meat vending, tailoring, and shoes and umbrella repair,” said Director Cabansag in a report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and DOLE-NCR Regional Director Alex Avila.

In a message to the 33 informal sector workers, Secretary Baldoz said the program does not end in the award of the raw materials, supplies, and equipment. She posed a challenge to each beneficiary to make good in their business.

In Valenzuela, 33 informal sector workers receive P152-K in livelihood grant from DOLE-NCR

“Your success is DOLE’s accomplishment. Above anything else, we would like all beneficiaries of DOLE livelihood programs to succeed in their chosen undertakings, to help uplift their lives, and thus enable them provide livelihood to the people in their communities.” she said.

“Take care of what was given to you and make it grow. We will help in all ways we can but you also have to work hard and strive,” she added.

Among the beneficiaries who were inspired by Miranda’s story is auto-mechanic Danilo Cruz, who has been working as one for 10 years.

peace will now reign in the hospital. Jobs were preserved and the operation of the company can continue,” said Baldoz.

Bethany Hospital is an 80-bed capacity tertiary hospital dedicated to providing healthcare for clients, including the poor and disadvantaged. Established in 1921, it is the oldest hospital in Region 1.

Together with its sister facility, Bethany Hospital, in Tacloban City, it had been originally founded by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

Today it is part of the health care and medical training chain of the original mission’s successor, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), including Bethany-Tacloban; the Silliman

University Medical Center Foundation, Inc. in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental; the Visayas Community Medical Center in Cebu City; and, Davao City’s Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries, all devoted to the church’s social mission and outreach.

Bethany Hospital currently employs some 232 employees, 142 of them on regular status. On the other hand, the Bethany Hospital Employees Union, the bargaining unit of hospital employees, is affiliated with the All Filipino Workers Confederation. It has 18 members, with 102 Bethany workers covered by the bargaining unit.

The settlement agreement was signed by Atty. Leonard T. Subiela, on behalf of the Bethany Hospital Employees Union, and Rev. Raul B. Umayba representing the Bethany Hospital management.

While he has a shop, he rents most of his tools and equipment from other auto-mechanics. The DOLE awarded him a drill and a grinder he can use for his business.

“Currently, I employ two mechanics, enabling them to finish a full-body car repair in a month. With the equipment from the DOLE for which I am very thankful, I can hire two more auto-mechanics so they can finish a full-body car repair and painting in just three weeks. I can accept more customers and hopefully, substantially increase the income of my automotive repair shop,” Cruz said.

DOLE’s NCMB settles . . . from page 2

� April 2014

Over 9,000 jobs, both local and overseas will be offered by 45 employers as the Department of Labor and Employment Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE CAR) gears up its preparation for the annual Labor

Day Job Fair on 1 May.With the theme, “Sipag, Tiyaga, at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang

Pilipino,” the regional office, in full convergence with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO); Regional Coordinating Committee; City Government of Baguio; and media partners will be holding simultaneous job fairs on 1 May at the Baguio Convention Center and SM City Baguio Atrium to be participated by 33 local companies and 12 licensed recruitment agencies.

“More than the job fairs, we shall also provide a one-stop shop of government services for an accessible facilitation of pre-employment documents. The one-stop shop will be composed of officers and representatives of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO); Pag-ibig; Philhealth; Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA); Social Security System (SSS); Civil Service Commission (CSC); Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC); Commission on Higher Education (CHED); City Treasurer’s Office (CTO); and National Bureau Investigation (NBI),” Jalbuena said.

Further, the Technical Skills and Development Authority will provide free massage and haircut and the region’s Department of Trade and Industry will also hold a livelihood fair at the convention center grounds to showcase the products of DOLE-CAR livelihood projects.

Family and relatives of OFWs may get in touch with their loved ones on Labor Day with PLDT’s free international direct dialing service.

Jobseekers in Region 1 should make a go for the over 11,000 jobs which will be offered at the

three major job fairs the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 1 has lined up to celebrate the 2014 Labor Day on 1 May.

This was the challenge Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz issued after Regional Director Grace Ursua reported that two of the three job fairs will be held simultaneously at SM City in Rosales, Pangasinan and at the Provincial Capitol Compound in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

“The third job fair in the region will be at the CB Mall in Urdaneta City, also in Pangasinan,” Ursua said. According to Ursua, the regional office has firmed up the participation of at least 40 local employers and licensed overseas recruitment agencies which will make available at least 4,000 vacancies at the SM Rosales job fair, another 30 local employers and licensed overseas recruitment agencies that will offer 3,000 vacancies at the Ilocos Sur job fair; and 40 local employers and licensed overseas recruitment agencies that will bring in 4,000 vacancies at the CB Mall job facilitation and job matching event.

The job fairs will also be highlighted by the display of livelihood products from DOLE-assisted projects to encourage job fair visitors to venture into self-employment undertakings. “We will have livelihood focal person attending to queries about the DOLE integrated livelihood program and answer questions on how to avail, what are the guidelines, and other related matters,” Ursua explained.

Making it easier for job seekers in the Cagayan region to search--and find--jobs at the 112th Labor Day celebration on 1 May, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 2

announces the venues of the Job Fairs in the region to provide over 5,000 local and overseas jobs from 110 participating employers.

Anchored on the theme, “Sipag, Tiyaga, at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino,” the DOLE celebrates the 2014 Labor Day as a tribute to the nation’s workers. On May 1, we are bringing jobs closer to more graduates and jobseekers in the region to make their job search easier,” Regional Office No. 2 Director Sixto Rodriguez said.

The 2014 Labor Day nationwide simultaneous Job Fair on May 1 in Region 2 shall be held at the People’s Gym in Tuguegarao, City and Santiago City Hall in Isabela.

In Tuguegarao, the roster of 40 local employers and recruitment agencies shall bring about 700 local job vacancies and 1,000 overseas opportunities to Cagayanos. In Isabela, over 3,500 job vacancies, both local and overseas, are up for grabs from 60 participating local companies and 10 overseas employers.

112TH LABOR DAY CELEBRATIONSa Sipag, Tiyaga at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino!

11,000 jobs plus await jobseekers at three Labor Day job fairs in Region 1

9,000 jobs to shine at country’s summer capital on Labor Day

In Region 2, Job Fair venues, 5,000 jobs all set on Labor Day

DOLE Good News

�April 2014

The job fairs in Metro Manila, with 17 venues already confirmed, will be the biggest job fairs on 1 May, Labor Day, in terms of number of job vacancies.

“With 65 job fairs already firmed up, the job fairs in Metro Manila will easily be the biggest in terms of job vacancies, with over 77,000 job vacancies already tallied and still counting,” Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said.

“In fact, many more employers are requesting the DOLE National Capital Region for slots, but unfortunately, the biggest venue, the SMX in Pasay City, can only accommodate so much,” she added.

Of the 77,000 job vacancies, Baldoz said 9,994 are for police officers to be hired by the Philippine National

DOLE Regional Office No. 6 Regional Director Ponciano Ligutom already identified the ten most important local career opportunities that 130 employers will be offering to job seekers and new graduates at the

three DOLE regional job fairs in Region 6 on 1 May, Labor Day. In a report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz,

Director Ligutom said the opportunities are for the positions of customer service representatives, accounting clerks, production personnel, program assistants, service crew, drivers, janitors, cashiers, marketing officers and marketing supervisors, marketing staff, electrical personnel, masons, painters, plumbers, steelmen, and carpenters, as well as mechanical and civil engineers.

“We are encouraging job seekers and graduates in the region to take advantage of these opportunities on Labor Day as we salute our Filipino workers,” he said, as he urged job seekers to bring all the necessary documents on 1 May to make their job application convenient and to increase their chances of getting hired.

A week before the event, Ligutom said the regional office is still inviting more local companies, as well as overseas recruitment agencies, to join and participate in the region’s three Labor Day Job and Livelihood Fairs which will be held simultaneously at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, at the SM City Mall in Iloilo, and at the SM Bacolod City.

“Companies with available job vacancies can sign up by logging on to www.phil-jobnet.dole.gov.ph and post their vacancies. The job fair at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol will be the center of all the activities in relation to this year’s Labor Day celebration,” he said.

He disclosed that to date, some 130 local companies and overseas recruitment agencies with 42,322 vacancies have thus far signed up to join the job fairs. For Iloilo City alone, 76 local employers and overseas recruitment agencies have signed up with close to 18,000 vacancies, while in Bacolod City, 54 have signified to join with more than 25,000 jobs available. The top DOLE regional official expects the numbers to increase significantly by April 30.

Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 10 Director Atty. Alan Macaraya reported to Labor and Employment

Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz that a total of 103 establishments offering 4,079 local and overseas job vacancies will be participating in this year’s regional Labor Day Job Fair to be held at SM Cagayan de Oro and Oroquieta City Gym

Aside from the Jobs Fair in SM Cagayan de Oro, a Personality-Enhancement Mini Workshop, sponsored by SM, will be also be held at the venue to provide tips for the Jobs Fair applicants, while a Diskwento Caravan and SPES All-Star Singing Contest will also be held simultaneously with the Jobs Fair in Oroquieta Plaza.

Also in Region 10, Kaamulan Grounds in the Provincial Capitol of Bukidnon will be hosting a walk against child laborers dubbed, “Gamit Pang Eskwela, Tsinelas Alay sa Bata, Araw ng Manggagawa”, wherein drop boxes will be provided for school supplies donation.

The activity will benefit 600 child laborers covering four declared Child Labor-Free Barangays in Malaybalay City—Brgys. Managok, San Jose, Linabo, and Magsaysay.

There will also be other activities such as bloodletting, livelihood turn-over, free reflexogy services, and a Nego Kart Livelihood Fair.

A motorcade and Labor Day 2014 Rites and the “Adlaw sa Mamumu-o” will take place at Villanueva Gym in Misamis Oriental while a Unity Walk dubbed, “Saludo sa Tripartismo”, will be held at the Iligan City Plaza.

112TH LABOR DAY CELEBRATIONSa Sipag, Tiyaga at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino!

In NCR, job fairs in 17 venues to offer over 77,000 job vacancies, 10,000 of them for police officers and 9,000 for BIR lawyers, accountants, and other personnel

Police, and 9,000 for various vacancies in the Bureau of Internal Revenue, including lawyers and accountants.

In Metro Manila, the 17 job fairs will be held in the following venues: (1) SMX Pasay City (170 employers, 58,004 job vacancies); (2) SM North Edsa (65 employers, 6,499 vacancies); (3) SM Megamall (55 employers, 1,715 job vacancies); (4) SM Valenzuela (27 employers, 400 job vacancies); (5) SM Fairview (13 employers, 2,462 vacancies); (6) SM Novaliches (12 employers, 295 job vacancies);(7) SM Manila (41 employers, 411 job vacancies); (8) SM San Lazaro (16 employers, 825 job vacancies); (9) SM Sta. Mesa (37 employers, 190 job vacancies); (10) SM Pasig (2 employers, 96 job vacancies); (11) SM Marikina (20 employers, 2,341 job vacancies); (12) SM South Mall (12 employers, 595 job vacancies);(13) SM Las Pinas (4 employers, 41 job vacancies); (14) SM Sucat (7 employers, N.A.); (15) SM Bicutan (20 employers, N.A.); (16) SM BF-Paranaque (4 employers, 101 job vacancies); and (17) SM Muntinlupa (65 employers, 622 job vacancies).

A week before Labor Day, DOLE Region 6 still welcomes employers to its two job fairs as it identifies top 10 local vacancies

4K jobs await Cagayeños in DOLE-10’s Labor Day Job Fair

� April 2014

DOLE Good News

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has

urged closer cooperation among participating agencies in the JobStart Philippines project in building on a strong labor market information system, or LMIS, to achieve the goals of the project.

She also said having a strong LMIS will improve accessibility to and use of valuable labor market information that is key to addressing structural unemployment and jobs-skills mismatch.

“Indeed, building on a strong LMIS as a foundation to linking all information and online databases of the government is a good way to capture and present all available statistics and information when it comes to mapping out supply of and demand for skills and other relevant information which constitute the labor market,” Baldoz said in her message at the National Consultation Workshop on the LMIS Action Plan at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila.

The national consultation workshop, organized by the Bureau of Local Employment, the DOLE’s lead agency in the JobsStart Philippines project, aimed to solicit inputs to the LMIS Action Plan and to assess its feasibility.

“This consultation is an opportunity to discuss how we can work together to identify key labor market signals and indicators to ensure the seamless flow of LMI both at the national and regional levels,” Baldoz told her audience composed of officials and representatives of the Professional Regulation Commission, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Labor Communications Office, DOLE-NCR, DOLE Regional Offices Nos. 1, 2,3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, Caraga, CAR, and NCR; as well as the Public Employment Service Office Managers of Quezon City, Taguig, and San Fernando, Pampanga.

Mr. Kelly Bird, Principal Economist of the Asian Development Bank of the Philippines, and Ms. Narcisa Rivera of the Embassy of Canada were present at the national consultation.

The LMIS Action Plan was developed for the JobStart Philippines Project, a flagship program jointly funded and supported by the Asian Development Bank under its Employment Facilitation for Inclusive Growth and by the Government of Canada.

JobStart Philippines Project seeks to boost job creation in the Philippines by

DOLE urges cooperation in building a strong labor market information system

filling up the capacity gap for labor market policy development and the delivery of employment services.

“The JobStart Philippines Project aims to enhance the employability of young adults and improve their integration into productive employment in two ways: (1) provide knowledge on labor market information and effective strategies for job searches; and (2) develop skills and values that would make them employable,” said Baldoz.

Baldoz said the JobStart Philippines Project will be piloted in four PESOs in the National Capital Region, specifically in Quezon City and Taguig; Region 3 (San Fernando), and Region 4-A

(Gen. Trias, Cavite), with 1,600 youth beneficiaries who will be provided with life skills training, enhanced career guidance services, vocational training, and internships with employers for up to six months.

She said the project emanated from studies showing slow school-to-work transition, as well as from employers’ feedback on the lack of life skills of entry-level workers, poor attitude towards work, poor critical thinking, and inadequate communication skills.

“Today, with less experience and fewer skills than many adults, our young people are being alienated from employment opportunities; youth unemployment rate is alarmingly high at 17.3 percent. As an emerging economy, our country has a large army of educated unemployed, and our unemployment rate is higher among those who finished high school up to those who reached and finished college. Certainly, there is a need to implement a comprehensive Career Guidance Advocacy Program and LMIS geared towards improving the competencies and job matching of the youth and ensuring that they are enterprise-ready in an increasingly complex knowledge-based economy,” Baldoz explained.

“As we try to make employment facilitation services more accessible and transparent to the general public, the DOLE has enhanced its PhilJobNet system, the government’s official online job portal, and has established a Skills Registry System (SRS) at the grassroots level that enables the local government units to improve the referral, employment coaching, training, and LMI services of their PESOs in the community,” Baldoz said.

A tearful Nelia Bais, AKKSI President, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the DOLE for the much-needed assistance.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami nang marami dahil nandito po ang DOLE at ibang pang mga ahensya ng gobyerno upang kami’y tulungang umunlad at magkaroon ng kakayahang itaguyod ang aming mga pamilya sa pamamagitan ng tulong pangkabuhayan na ipinagkaloob po ninyo sa amin. Asahan po ninyo na gagawin namin ang lahat upang mapalago namin ito,” Bais said.

Meanwhile, KPPBI President Albert Velasquez assured that they will be good stewards of the DOLE-DOST Convergence Program.

DOLE releases P450-K . . . from page 1

“Ito po ang simula ng pagkakaroon ng livelihood program na panghabambuhay dito sa amin. Lahat po ng mga magsasaka at residente ng Brgy. Bayabas ay makikinabang sa proyektong ito. Makaka-asa po kayo na kami’y magtutulong-tulong upang pagyamanin ito,” Velasquez said.

Aside from Bulacan and Pampanga, the DOLE regional office, in coordination with the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), will also be launching the convergence program for identified groups/beneficiaries in Brgy. Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora; Tala, Orani, Bataan; Brgy.Cuyapa, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija; Lapaz, Tarlac; and Tubo-Tubo North and South, Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

DOLE Good News

�April 2014

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and Jose Mari Mercado, President

of the Information Technology-Business Processing Association of the Philippines recently signed a landmark partnership agreement and joint action plan that will translate into concrete terms the directives of President Benigno S. Aquino III to the DOLE to assist employed workers keep their jobs; assist the unemployed workers find jobs; and protect workers’ rights and benefits.

“This is a a proactive step to ensure the rights and benefits, including the safety and health, of workers in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM),” said Baldoz.

“The IBPAP, recognizing the role of government in supporting the IT-BPM road map, is entering into a partnership with the DOLE to safeguard the welfare and well-being of the talent pool to promote best people and safety and health practices, thus helping the private sector build a work environment that lives up to the industry and global standards, and attracts to and retains the best talents in the IT-BPM sector,” said Mercado.

The IBPAP, as the recognized worldwide leading private organization of companies in global information technology and business process management located in the Philippines, generated over 700,000 direct employment and 1.6 million indirect employment in 2012. The sector earned more than US$13 billion in

Workers’ benefits, health and safety are prioritiesDOLE and IBPAP sign accord, implement a two-year action plan for IT-BPM sector

export revenues, or 5.5 percent of gross domestic product, enabling the country to surpass India in voice global IT-BPM, thus making the Philippine call center industry the largest in the world.

Mercado said the IBPAP’s roadmap has identified growth opportunities for developing high-value export IT-BPM analytics, research, and development in areas such as medical research and health care; engineering and high technology; creatives; and financial and banking services, which are being delivered by its members to diverse markets in Europe, Australia, and Asia Pacific.

The DOLE-IBPAP partnership agreement is an offshoot of the DOLE’s and IBPAP’s effort to solidify a holistic and extensive approach to elicit voluntary compliance among IBPAP members with general labor standards and occupational safety and health practices to address the safety and protection of IT-BPM workers.

“The DOLE and the IBPAP share a common conviction that practices that protect the safety, health, and well-being of workers are essential to building long-term solution to national concerns and global challenges,” Baldoz said.

“Through this accord, the DOLE and the IBPAP demonstrate strong resolve to work together to increase awareness of the IT-BPM sector on general labor

standards and OSH standards with a view to improve compliance, develop industry-specific best practices, and foster within the sector a culture of voluntary compliance with general labor standards and OSH regulations,” said Baldoz.

Under the agreement, the DOLE and the IBPAP will implement a two-year joint action plan to promote IT-BPM best people practices and voluntary compliance with general labor standards (GLS) and occupational safety and health (OSHS).

The agreement shall kick-off with an orientation of IBPAP members on labor law compliance and occupational safety and health standards this April. Both the DOLE and IBPAP shall create a technical working committee (TWG) for the immediate implementation of the action plan until 31 December 2015.

Other strategies and activities in the action plan are the development of IEC materials; joint assessment on IT-BPM establishments; surveys on occupational safety and health compliance; and compilation of relevant industry-specific information for future monitoring progress of the plan.

“This action plan is just the beginning of our long-term goal of addressing the real labor relations situation in the BPO industry,” Baldoz said.

WORKERS’ SAFETY IN THE IT-BPM INDUSTRY AS PRIORITY. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (3rd from right, seated) and Information Technology-Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President Jose Mari Mercado (3rd from left, seated) pose for a photo after signing the Partnership Agreement and Joint Action Plan between the DOLE and IBPAP to promote IT-BPAP Best People Practices and Voluntary Compliance with General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards. The signing ceremony was held at the Employees Compensation Commission Building in Makati City. Joining the Secretary are DOLE Undersecretaries Ciriaco Lagunzad III and Rebecca Chato; IBPAP Executive Director Geraldine Inocencio-Marcial; IBPAP Human Resource Director Mary Grace Antonette Arroyo-Cruz; DOLE Assistant Secretary Gloria Tango and other DOLE senior officials.

o all our future registered nurses and teachers, here’s a hassle-free summer for all of you. Watch out for the PRC’s application caravan

in four SM Malls in Metro Manila and file your NLE and LET applications.”

This is the message of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz after she received a report from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairman Teresita Manzala that the PRC is rolling out its application caravan in four SM Malls for this year’s Nursing Licensure Examinations (NLE) set on 25-26 May and the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LET) on 27 July.

The application caravan will be conducted from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the following malls on the following dates: 24-28 March—SM Novaliches; SM Southmall; and SM San Lazaro; and 7-11 April, 26-30 May, and 9-13—SM Manila, SM Novaliches, and SM South Mall.

The deadline for the filing of applications is as follows: For Nurses—28 March for Repeaters and 11 April for First-Time Takers; and for Teachers—30 May for Repeaters and 13 June for First-Time Takers.

The Professional Regulation Commission, an attached agency of the DOLE, had issued Memorandum Circular No. 2014-03 on 20 March providing for the conduct of the application caravan.

A hassle-free summer for all NLE, LET applicantsDOLE’s PRC rolls out licensure application caravan in 4 Metro SM Malls

“The caravan is to be implemented in anticipation of the significant volume of applicants for the nurses and teachers licensure examinations,” said Baldoz, citing the PRC circular, adding that the expected volume of examinees is based on last year’s record, as follows: (a) for the June 2013 NLE, 37,887 examinee-applicants; and (b) for December 2013 NLE, 35,475.

On the other hand, the September 2013 LET recorded a total of 62,160 examinee-applicants for elementary teachers and 64,792 for secondary school teachers; and for March 2013 LET, 37,117 examinee-applicants for elementary school teachers and 38,433 examinee-applicants for secondary school teachers.

“Applicants for licensure examination are advised to encode their data via the Online Application System (OAS) facility of the PRC website before proceeding to the above-mentioned SM Malls,” Baldoz said.

The OAS, which went into full operation in July 2013, enables applicants for licensure examinations to apply online, anytime, and anywhere and take the licensure examination at the PRC testing centers indicated in their Application Forms.

“With the OAS, clients will be able to avail of PRC services easily anytime, anywhere, or even within the comfort and convenience of their homes or offices, thereby, hastening PRCs delivery of needed services while decongesting its offices of thousands of professionals and licensure examination applicants who transact business with PRC every day,” she added.

The PRC emphasized, however, that it will continue to accept applications for examinations at its central offices located at P. Paredes St. cor. N. Reyes St., Sampaloc, Manila.

The implementation of the PRC’s Application Caravan and ‘e-Services’ is a PRC strategy to enhance human capital through education and training by strengthening the national licensing, competency assessment, and certification systems.

“T