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For the 63 union member-workers of Bacon-Manito (BACMAN) Power Plant in Manito Albay, the Department of Labor and Employment’s

livelihood intervention did not only answer their clamour for additional income. It also enabled them to earn double from their water refilling station venture.

Through the DOLE’s Workers Income Augmentation Program (WINAP), the simple plea of the Bacman Professional and Technical Employees Union for an additional source of income has turned into a sustainable enterprise for the group – the BACMAN Twin Falls water refilling station.

With DOLE’s livelihood assistance, the BAPTEU has transformed its project into a business that earned them P153 million in 2012 from only P42,536 in 2010.

DOLE Regional Office No. 5 Director Nathaniel Lacambra said the association’s achievement demonstrates the positive effect of convergence of the DOLE’s livelihood services and assistance.

In December 2008, the DOLE-Bicol awarded the BAPTEU P375,000 in livelihood grant under the WINAP. The fund was used for the purchase of utilities necessary for the operation of the water refilling station.

Extending its support, the Energy Development Corporation signed a MOA with BAPTEU supporting the union’s business by providing free use of water, electricity, and other equipment which the union needed for its daily operation.

After seven months, the accord paved the way for the start of the water refilling station and the birth of the Bacman Twin Falls Cooperative in September 2009 with 63 union worker-members.

Efficiently utilizing the grant and available local resources, the BAPTEU was able to expand and increase productivity. The project’s assets grew from P 587,897 in 2009 to a doubled P 1,229,784 in 2012. Net income increased to P152,989 from its meager start of P42,536.

As it stands today, the four-year-old business continues to operate not only as a water refilling station, but also a photocopy center. The cooperative has maintained a well-sanitized operation complying with all safety and health requirements and operational permits.

The cooperative’s increased earnings allowed them to purchase 25 water dispensers for EDC offices and five photocopy machine units to expand their business.

“Aside from the services that the cooperative provides to their fellow Bicolanos and increased income for the union members, the group has also provided employment for four workers who are now attending to the water refilling and photocopying business,” Lacambra said.

Lauding the efforts of the regional office, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said that the implementation of the Department’s WINAP should not merely focuses on providing financial assistance, but on empowering more communities and worker groups in managing their own enterprises.

In Bicol, water station business fills the cup to the brim of union workers, thanks to DOLE’s WINAP

LET’S DRINK TO THAT! Workers of BACMAN power plant enjoy sips of water from their water refilling station, a DOLE WINAP-assisted enterprise.

DOLE Good News

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 WritersJOSE C. DE LEON

MARK JAIME L. CERDENIAMA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA

CELESTE T. MARINGHAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY

REVELITA F. LAXINA

Editorial AssistantsGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCEMADELYN D. DOMETITA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

ALDRIN L. APOLONIO - 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

VIRGILIO A. DOROJA, JR. - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

JOCELYN C. FLORDELIS - Region 11

CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA - Region 12

FRANCIS Y. NAZARIO - Caraga

� February 2013

VERSEAS CORNER

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the Philippine Overseas

Employment Administration (POEA), has announced the test venue and notice of the 1st Special Employment Permit System (EPS)-Test on Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in the Philippines for voluntary returnee-workers.

The conduct of the EPS-TOPIK is a collaboration between the Ministry of Employment and Labor-Human Resource Development (MOEL-HRD) of Korea and the DOLE-POEA so that EPS workers can be re-deployed back to Korea at the least possible cost and free from the pitfalls of human trafficking or illegal recruitment.

“The government-to-government cooperation between the Philippines and Korea had further leveled up recently with the establishment of a computer-based testing center at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), which facilitates the smooth and hassle-free re-entry of many OFWs to Korea,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said.

POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the 1st Special EPS-TOPIK test has been set on Sunday, 14 March 2013 at San Beda College in Mendiola, Manila, with the 1st session beginning at 10:00-11:00 a.m. (Reading 10:00-

Re-entry of former OFWs to Korea now open with first EPS TOPIK test

10:40, Listening 10:40-11:00) and the 2nd session at 3:00-4:00 p.m. (Reading 3:00-3:40, Listening 3:40-4:10 p.m.).

He said each examinee is advised to take his/her designated seat before the Examinee’s Orientation at 9:00 (1st session) a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (2nd session), otherwise, he/she cannot take the test.

Announcement of the test room will be posted on the Bulletin Board at the

test venue on the actual test date, Cacdac added.

The POEA chief said examinees should take note of the exact test venue, date, and time as they can only take the test at the designated test venue on the designated date and time.

“On the test date, one set of test paper and one answer sheet will be distributed to

every applicant. The applicant’s name, registration number, and designated type of test paper will already be printed (marked) on each answer sheet,” said Cacdac.

Cacdac further said an applicant should confirm his/her name and registration number, which are printed on his/her answer sheet, when receiving the answer sheet. An applicant should also receive the same type of test paper with the printed type of test paper on the answer sheet (type A, B, C or D).

The POEA administrator said any mistake or error caused by the type of

test paper is the responsibility of the applicant, thus, each should confirm that the type of test paper which he/she receives is the same with the one printed on the answer sheet before the test starts.

The test rules also indicated that only one answer sheet will be distributed for each applicant, as no replacement and modification of answer is permitted, so examinees are advised to fill out their answer sheet carefully. Correction of answers on the answer sheet with correction fluid or tape will be regarded as wrong answer.

It said verification of identity by face will be conducted by proctors, so an examinee must bring his or her passport on the test day, otherwise, the test taker cannot take the test.

Applicants must use black-color pen in marking answers. Answers marked with a pencil or other-color pen shall be regarded as invalid.

The rules also state that during the test, applicants cannot use the toilet and cannot leave the test room (if the test taker leaves the test room during the test, his/her test would be regarded as invalid, or that he/she is cheating).

Having and using electronic and communication devices, such as mobile phones, PDA, and etc., is prohibited anywhere in the test venue during the test day (if examinee have or use them during test, he/she will be regarded as a cheater).

In case of cheating during the test, test will be void and the examinee will NOT be eligible for taking the test for 2 years.

DOLE Good News

�February 2013

Through the Department of Labor and Employment’s Special Program for

Employment of Students (SPES), the country’s underprivileged youth have been provided short-term employment and work experience to equip them as part of the future workforce.

Conceptualized as a ‘bridging employment’ program to enhance the employability of young student-workers, SPES has brought education and employment closer to poor, but deserving, student-beneficiaries in the country.

For one pioneer SPES beneficiary in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, the SPES did not only ‘bridged’ him towards a better life. Instead, it even provided him a greater calling to empower more underprivileged youth in the south as a Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager.

The harsh realities of life already stared at Rusty ‘Kebs’ Vilo, when his parents died while he was at 3rd year highschool. Tough luck pushed Kebs and his 7 siblings to work for them to sustain their schooling.

Unyielding in reaching for his dreams, Kebs worked as a houseboy in Kalamansig where his employer helped him in supporting his college education. Balancing his time as a working student, Kebs knew he needed to earn more to help his other siblings and his family’s subsistence.

And so his prayer was answered when he was chosen one of the SPES beneficiaries in Sultan Kudarat. From 2003 to 2005, Kebs worked at the Kalamansig Municipal Treasury Office as a student-worker under SPES.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa SPES. Sa mga taong iyon, ako ay nakabigay ng tulong sa iba kong kapatid, nakapag-aral ng maayos at makapagsabing may laman ang sikmura,” Kebs shared.

“Sa pagtatrabahong yun, natutunan ko ang tinatawag na tiyaga, maayos na pamamahala sa aking oras, pakikisama at higit sa lahat ang hindi mawalan ng pag-asa,” he added.

Reaping the fruits of his labor, Kebs finished with flying colors as a scholar at Notre Dame of Salaman College in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education.

After his service as a teacher at Notre Dame of Salaman College for six years, Kebs felt the need to expand his profession to a higher purpose. Fulfilling a greater duty, he was assigned as the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager of Lebak in 2012.

Serving the communities of the remote town in Sultan Kudarat, the 28-year-old manager has been more of a servant. His daily responsibilities have given him a deep sense of pride and fulfillment as he brings back to the people what the SPES has done in his life.

Now a SPES partner, PESO Manager Rusty Vilo continues to perform his role in delivering services to provide employment opportunities to poor, yet deserving, students like him who have no means but have the ability to pursue college education.

“Sobra ang aking pasasalamat sa programa ng DOLE na nagbigay daan para mabuo ang aking pangarap. Ngayon, bilang PESO manager, naipapaabot ko sa mga kliyente ng Department of Labor and Employment na totoong may kahihinatnan ang maliit na tulong kung may kaakibat na pagsisikap,” Kebs enthused.

In 2012, the DOLE Regional Offices have successfully benefitted a total

of 138,635 SPES students, or 99.03 percent, out of the 140,000 target beneficiaries.

The leading gainers in terms of student-beneficiaries reached are ranked as follows: Region 7, 1st, with 16,135 students; NCR, 2nd, with 15, 441 students; Region 2, 3rd, with 10,337 students; Region 10, 4th, with 9,841 students; Region 3, 5th, with 9,574 students; Region 9, 6th, with 9,429 students; Region 8, 7th, with 9,143 students; Region 6, 8th, with 8,688 students; Region 4A, 9th, with 7,898 students; CARAGA, 10th, with 7,802 students; Region 12, 11th, with 7,213 students; Region 4B, 12th, with 6,320 students; Region 11, 13th, with 5,904 students; Region 5, 14th, with 5,127 students; CAR, 15th, with 4,914 students; and Region 1, 16th, with 4,869 students.

“The SPES has definitely made a difference in the lives of millions of Filipino students who have no means but have the ability to pursue college education,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, adding that the DOLE has targeted 180,000 student-beneficiaries for 2013.

In Sultan Kudarat, former SPES beneficiary spells servanthood as PESO manager

SMILES OF A SERVANT. Sultan Kudarat PESO Manager Rusty ‘Kebs’ Vilo (1st from right) shares his SPES learning through public service in his own hometown.

DOLE Good News

� February 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III, at the start of his administration, has specifically tasked the Department

of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to work with other government agencies in “strengthening the emergency employment program to immediately create jobs so people can earn money to spend for their basic needs.”

Towards this end, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the different government agencies have converged their efforts, resulting to the creation of 1.44 million jobs in 2012 under the Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP). The 2012 figure is expected to increase as the final report will be released by the 1st quarter of this year.

“The CBEP provides employment to skilled, semi-skilled, and low-skilled workers in the community where a public work program is being undertaken, whether infrastructure or non-infrastructure.

“These jobs did not only provide the workers income, but has also energized the development of local communities around the country,” Baldoz said.

Based on preliminary reports for 2012, the CBEP generated 1.44 million actual jobs in projects implemented by 24 government agencies. Of this number, 661,084 jobs were created from infrastructure projects, while 777,579 jobs were from non-infrastructure projects.

“The partial 2012 CBEP accomplish-ment exceeded the 2011 record of 1.24 million jobs from the CBEP-enrolled pro-grams and projects,” Baldoz said.

The 24 participating agencies are the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA), Education (DepEd), Foreign Affairs (DFA), Energy (DOE), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Health (DOH), Labor and Employment (DOLE), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Trade and Industry (DTI), Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Tourism (DOT); Intramuros Administration (IA); Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA); Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA);

Community-Based Employment Program

2012 Government’s infra and non-infrastructure projects hit 1.44-M jobs, exceeding the 1.24-M jobs in 2011

Office Transportation Security; Philippine National Railways (PNR); Philippine Ports Authority (PPA); Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO); Landbank of the Philippines (LBP); Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA); National Housing Authority (NHA), National Youth Commission (NYC).

Under the CBEP, jobs are generated from infrastructure projects of the government, or Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) at the local community, such as the construction of roads, bridges, flood control structures, school buildings, and water systems, among others.

Jobs are also created from non-infrastruc-ture projects, such as reforestation, coastal resource management, livelihood and self employment programs, or from the emer-gency response, income-support programs that create short-term wage employment or self-employment in distressed/remote areas.

The CBEP is anchored on Republic Act 6685 which spells out the employment policy of hiring 50 percent unskilled and 30 percent skilled workers in the local community where an infrastructure project will be undertaken; Executive Order 94, Series of 1999, which established the policy direction and institutional framework for the implementation of labor-based, equipment-supported, infrastructure program; Executive Order 728, Series of 2009, that instituted measures to assist workers affected by the global financial crisis and temporary filling up of vacant positions in the government; and the memorandum of the Executive Secretary to the Cabinet and heads of all government instrumentalities on 27 September 2010.

For the effective implementation of CBEP projects, the DOLE and the NEDA developed a database of CBEP beneficiaries, programs/project implementation and monitoring, fund allocation and utilization for better analysis, targeting, and decision making.

Baldoz expressed confidence that the year-round CBEP in 2013 shall bring about more community-based jobs which shall engage communities in the grassroots towards their own development.

“This is another year to make the convergent efforts of government agencies felt by more workers, especially those in the countryside. Through CBEP, we aim to help more workers earn decent incomes,” Baldoz said.

DOLE Good News

�February 2013

“This year, we go developmental.”

This is the statement of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz as she

urged for a strengthened nationwide implementation of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) to develop, nurture, and sustain income generating and job-creating enterprises across the regions.

“This year calls for greater employment creation strategies as we ensure that our livelihood interventions are able to make an impact in terms of alleviating poverty and making solid contribution to the inclusive growth agenda of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III,” Baldoz said.

The DILP is one of the DOLE’s program enrolled under the government’s Com-munity-Based Employ-ment Program (CBEP) which aims to generate sustainable local enter-prises towards increased self-employment and productivity across the regions.

The DILP is designed to organize and focus services delivery of various government agencies and private organizations to achieve a systematic and rational convergence of such services and assistance to the community.

“Our objective is to assist individual workers and community groups in developing sustainable enterprises right in the communities, thereby providing opportunities for generating incomes through wage and self-employment,” Baldoz said.

In 2012, a total of 84,207 informal sector workers and groups in the country have been self-employed and now earning after the DOLE, through its Regional Offices, awarded a total over P300 million worth of livelihood packages through the DILP.

Citing a report of the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), Baldoz said the 84,207 workers from various worker-groups were distributed

Empowering more workers in communities

DOLE to bring more social protection, jobs, and livelihood through DILP in 2013

“The DOLE is now going beyond

livelihood formation in the execution of

livelihood programs and projects across

all regions. More than capacitating our beneficiaries

financially, we are now shifting gears

towards sustainable employment creation

and productivity in the regions.”

- Secretary Baldoz

in the regions as follows: NCR, 5,921 beneficiaries; CAR, 8,735; Region 1, 4,267; Region 2, 947; Region 3, 14,846; Region 4-A, 4,5,016; Region 4-B, 4,555; and Region 5, 2,380 beneficiaries;

Region 6, 2,454 beneficiaries; Region 7, 5,596; Region 8, 2,764; Region 9, 1,283; Region 10, 8,143; Region 11, 7,291; Region 12, 7,557; and CARAGA, 2,452 beneficiaries.

The DILP recipients have been awarded by the DOLE with liveli-hood assistance in the form of raw materials, tools, jigs, and equip-ment; complemented by training cum produc-tion and skills training and upgrading to equip them in pursuing their income-generating and job-creating business undertakings in their localities.

“We aim to double

With DOLE’s assistance through the DILP,

the Rebucon Fishermen Association (RFA) in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. RFA has transformed its Milkfish (bangus) Sea Cage Culture Livelihood Project into a sustainable enterprise and now produces 1,700 kilos of bangus every four months.

In October 2011, the DOLE awarded the RFA P341,000.00 in livelihood grant under the DILP-CED. The fund was used for the purchase of cage materials, feeds, and fingerlings.

Efficiently utilizing the grant and available local resources, the RFA was able to expand and increase productivity. Its first harvest of 1,700 kilos of bangus was sold for P100.00 per kilo, or a 49.85 percent return of capital in just four months.

The association’s feat demonstrates the positive effect of convergence of the DOLE’s livelihood services and assistance with the community’s involvement towards developing a sustainable business that secure better lives for members of the community and their families.

The project even provided employment to marginalized fishermen—members of the association and generated additional income for other fisherfolks who were involved in marketing the harvest.

the number as hundreds more will benefit from the government’s community-based livelihood program. We shall continue to work in providing our workers in the countryside with opportunities to move them out from unemployment to productive jobs towards securing better lives for themselves and their families,” Baldoz said.

Towards an extensive, yet, accessible saturation of the program in the grassroots this year, Baldoz reiterated her directive to the DOLE regional focal teams to identify active workers organizations or community groups with marketable products or services and strengthen their entrepreneurial activities by identifying possible areas of convergence.

“We now move in providing more worker-groups with productivity improvement services to enhance the enterprises’ competitiveness. Through the DOLE’s convergence with other partner agencies, we also provide them with providing them appropriate training and consultancy services on skills, business planning, decision making, and project development and management, Baldoz explained.

DILP in action

� February 2013

As the graduation season draws near, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-

Baldoz yesterday reminded all DOLE regional offices of the department’s thrust calling for an intensified career guidance campaign that will help students, particularly those in far-flung areas, make right career choices towards ‘skills-fit’ employment.

“At this time of the year, our regional offices must consciously exert effort to collaborate with our local partners and employment facilitators, which include our network of PESO officers and guidance counselors, to strengthen and intensify some more our career guidance campaign among graduating students to effectively assist them in making wise and excellent career decisions,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz issued the call after receiving the report that the DOLE Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recently conducted a career guidance coaching cum seminar for 98 third year students and 41 parents of Asipulo National High School (ANHS) in Ifugao Province.

Isabelita Codamon of the DOLE Ifugao Field Office conducted the

DOLE career guidance campaign reaches Ifugao, conquers more schools for skills-fit employment

sessions both for parents and students. She discussed during the sessions job and career definition; labor market information and employment scenario; self-assessment towards right career choices; and skills development to meet the demands of the labor market. She also gave an overview of the DOLE’s Project JobsS Fit, the key employment generators, and the projected in-demand and hard-to-fill careers.

“The career guidance coaching activity is one of the region’s career guidance advocacy strategies which aims to provide high school graduates as future workers with the right labor market signals and to guide them toward careers with high employability after graduation,” DOLE CAR Regional Director John Henry Jalbuena reported.

“This year, the regional office will conduct more labor market information delivery activities in far-flung municipalities to steer more students towards courses with available employment and ‘skills-fit’ opportunities after graduation,” Jalbuena said.

In 2012, the region conducted 196 career guidance seminars which

benefitted 13,947 students and parents throughout the region.

Patricio Palungya, Asipulo National High School principal, thanked the DOLE for coming to his school for the career guidance coaching.

“This activity helped both students and parents of the school get informed about the government’s programs and services in addressing the perennial problem of jobs and skills mismatch,” he said.

The parents also expressed gratitude to the DOLE for the opportunity to be actively involved in planning their children’s career and college courses.

To make career guidance more effective as tool to help bridge the gap between education and the world of work, Baldoz called for an extensive, year-round campaign.

“We should not only intensify our efforts as graduation draws near. We have to continually educate the country’s future workforce about current labor market demands, signals, and available opportunities throughout the year,” she said.

“We should waste no time,” she added.

DOLE Good News

“The career guidance coaching activity is one of the region’s career guidance advocacy strategies which aims to provide high school graduates as future workers with the right labor market signals

and to guide them toward careers with high employability after graduation.” — DOLE CAR Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena

“The DOLE, especially our frontline services in the regions, should be proactively playing its part as partners of companies and communities in generating income and employment for minimum wage earners and other low-income workers,” Baldoz said.

WINAP, which is also dubbed “Dagdag-Kabuhayan para sa mga Manggagawa,”

assists organized and unorganized workers in the formal sector who opted to venture into businesses to provide them additional sources of income and employment for their family members.

Through the WINAP, the DOLE provides a mechanism to enhance the income-earning capacities of workers in the formal economy by providing them with additional income sources to augment their wages and subsequently raise their economic capability to meet the needs of their families.

In 2012, the DOLE has granted over 280 million worth of livelihood assistance to 16, 350 minimum wage earners and other low-income workers in organized and unorganized establishments nationwide in the WINAP’s year-round implementation.

“The continuous implementation of the WINAP reflects DOLE’s commitment to help our Filipino workers cope with the changing times, saying the program aims not only to help, but to empower union members though livelihood projects and entrepreneurial activities,” Baldoz said.

In Bicol, water station . . .

(from page 1)

DOLE Good News

�February 2013

Reiterating her pledge to intensify further the efficient, accessible, and responsive employment facilitation

services of the DOLE to push back job and skills mismatch in local communities, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz urged local government executives to support Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) by institutionalizing them and, thus, enable them to continue playing their frontline roles as employment facilitators.

“We consider and treat the PESOs as valuable allies and partners in delivering employment facilitation services. Therefore, we deem it very important that they are institutionalized,” Baldoz said.

“The more institutionalized PESOs we have, the better will be the employment facilitation services capability of the government,” she added.

The PESOs, according to Baldoz, not only provide employment facilitation services, but also are frontline actors in livelihood and manpower development; training; skills registry updating and maintenance; and labor market information dissemination.

Baldoz explained all of this as she announced that the DOLE National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) and Regional Office 4-B recently succeeded in solidifying pacts of partnership with local government units to adopt Republic Act 8759, otherwise known as the PESO Act of 1999.

Citing a report of DOLE-NCR Director Allan Macaraya, Baldoz said the convergence efforts of the DOLE-NCR Field Office in MUNTAPARLAS and PAPAMAMARISAN have led to the institutionalization of the PESOs of Pateros and Las Piñas.

“The DOLE-NCR’s strengthened partnership with the PESO Association of Metro Manila has brought to an all-time high the accomplishment of the DOLE-NCR in 2012. Under its job search assistance program services, the PESOs in the country’s premier capital have solicited 627,987 job vacancies, 55 percent higher than its 405,700 target for the year,” Director Macaraya said.

The two LGU-based PESOs raised the total institutionalized PESOs to 14 out of the 17 targeted operational local units in Metro Manila.

In Region 4-B, Baldoz said the municipal PESO of Sta. Cruz in Marinduque and the provincial PESO of Oriental Mindoro have also been institutionalized through Municipal Ordinance Nos. 76 and 24, respectively, thus hitting two PESO offices in MIMAROPA at the start of the year.

“The newly-institutionalized PESOs bring to three such PESOs in the province

of Marinduque and four in Oriental Mindoro,” reported DOLE Regional Office No. 4-B Director Zenaida Angara.

“Because these PESOs have been institutionalized, they are able to provide workers and graduates of Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro more accessible and cost-effective employment facilitation services and other DOLE programs,” Angara added.

Starting strong in 2013, the DOLE Regional Office 4-B has already institutionalized 13 PESO offices distributed in the four provinces of MIMAROPA: PESO Calapan, school-based PESOs in Divine Word College and Mindoro State College, and provincial PESO in Oriental Mindoro; PESO Magsaysay, school-based PESO in Occidental Mindoro State College, and provincial PESO in Occidental Mindoro; PESO Gasan, PESO Sta. Cruz, and provincial PESO in Marinduque; and Puerto Princesa City PESO, PESO Taytay, and provincial PESO in Palawan.

This year, the regional office also aims to establish a PESO office in the island province of Romblon to bring the DOLE’s employment services closer to Romblomanons. This is in consonance with the region’s target of institutionalizing at least one PESO per province.

“The PESOs in the region also plays a part in the education and employment services division of the local government offices for synergized efforts in the delivery of services and efficient implementation of developmental activities for a competent and productive workforce,” Angara said, citing the institutionalization of the Oriental Mindoro provincial PESO as part of Organizational Improvement Plan of the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro.

“Our PESO offices do not only serve as technical support for employment

facilitation services such as job fairs, they play a crucial role in and maintaining job vacancies, coordinating and soliciting employment opportunities, and providing recruitment assistance and enhancement training to enhance the employability and productivity of the people in the region. They work hand-in-hand with the DOLE in the conduct of its core employment programs and services,” Angara said.

The PESOs, are non-fee charging employment service facilities that provide assistance to job seekers in exploring employment opportunities and to prospective employers in search of manpower. They also serve as information hubs on the labor market and on the employment programs and services of government.

The Bureau of Local Employment, the agency that serves as the DOLE’s conduit for the provision of technical and other support services to the PESOs, reported that in 2012, there are 165 institutionalized PESOs in towns, cities, and provinces across the country, while there are 1,835 non-LGU based PESOs nationwide.

PESOs are linked to DOLE regional offices for coordination and technical supervision to ensure performance of their mandate.

Under the PESO law employers are encouraged to submit to the PESO on a regular basis a list of job vacancies to facilitate the exchange of labor market information services to job seekers.

“This year, the DOLE envisions to strengthen further the country’s PESO network as a frontline institution in job facilitation and delivery of accurate, relevant, and useful labor market information to our future work entrants. As the graduation season draws near, we need to mobilize our employment service vanguards,” Baldoz said.

With four newly-institutionalized PESOs in JanuaryBaldoz calls for greater LGU support for more institutionalized PESOs in 2013

Labor and Employment Secretar y Rosal inda Dimapilis-Baldoz hailed

the decision of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) and its union, Mitsubishi Motors Workers Union-Philippines (MMWU-P), to partner with the DOLE and its attached agency, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), by adopting the DOLE’s apprenticeship and employment program, Kasanayan at Hanapbuhay, or KASH, saying the move is the best way to mark the 27th EDSA People Power Anniversary, highlighting national effort to address youth unemployment.

Speaking at the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DOLE, MMPC, MMWU-P, and the TESDA calling for the implementation of the MMPC Apprenticeship Program, Baldoz said:

“I am very excited about this partnership. Today, the 27th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, we are setting a first in the labor and employment arena by implementing an old program, the Kasanayan at Hanapbuhay, or KasH, the DOLE’s Apprenticeship and Employment Program, with a markedly strong corporate social responsibility content. This is also the first apprenticeship partnership that we have with a major player in the automotive industry, the MMPC.”

“This is also the first time that the KasH Program is being implemented by the MMPC, which means it recognizes its important role in involving itself in the national effort to address the skills gap in the country. The MMPC’s decision is an exercise of highest corporate social responsibility and will certainly help boost the government’s human resource development program and employment facilitation efforts, especially for the country’s unemployed youth,” Baldoz added.

She also noted that the MMWU-P, the MMPC workers’ collective bargaining organization, approves and supports the apprenticeship program.

“This is another first, indicating the level of maturity of MMPC’s workers in recognizing the potential of apprentices

To address youth unemployment

DOLE marks EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary with Mitsubishi partnership on apprenticeship

as partners and future members of the MMPC workforce,” she said.

Baldoz said the KasH is an option that can be adopted as a bridging mechanism to further enhance the government’s skills development and employment facilitation program, envisioned to provide new entrants to the labor force with the opportunity to acquire basic skills and work experience which employers look for in hiring new employees.

She explained that by establishing its own apprenticeship program, the MMPC recognizes the skills bridging objectives of the KasH, as well as the need to ensure the availability of qualified skilled workers based on MMPC’s skills requirements and those of other players’ in the automotive industry.

Baldoz, together with Hikosaburo Shibata, MMPC President & Chief Executive Officer; Francisco P. Mero, MMWU-P President; and Velma S. Salazar, TESDA Region IV-A-Rizal Provincial Director signed the memorandum of agreement after a tour of the MMPC’s manufacturing facility along Ortigas Avenue Extension, Cainta, Rizal.

Under the MOA, the DOLE, MMPC, MMWU-P, and TESDA will establish an Apprenticeship Program Committee (APC) composed of six members to oversee the implementation of the apprenticeship partnership, which will

cover the following apprentice-able occupations or trades: (1) automotive electrician; (2) automotive body repair (NC II); (3) tinsmith welding; (4) Gas-Tungsten Arc Welding (NC IV); and (5) Automotive Mechanical Assembly (NC III).

MMPC shall observe a 60-40 percent distribution ratio of apprentice slots to beneficiaries, with 60 percent to be opened to technical-vocational graduates from TESDA-accredited schools, while 40 percent will be reserved for technical-vocational graduates from the community where the MMPC operates.

To qualify, an apprentice must not be more than 25 years old. He or she must be physically fit

and pass the MMPC aptitude test. For apprentices from technical-vocational schools, the applicant must be on the last semester of two-year technical-vocational course, preferably related to automotive or welding. For apprentices from the community, the applicant must be a graduate of a two-year technical-vocational course; unemployed; and willing to acquire new skills or enhance

their skills in automotive or welding works.

The MOA provides that on-the-job (OJT) hours will be fused with the apprenticeship training hours, but the total period of engagement must not be more than six months.

Under the MOA, it shall be the mutual responsibilities of the parties to oversee the implementation of the

Training Plan and to review and adjust it, if necessary, to achieve its objectives; monitor its implementation; evaluate the program at least once a year, or as the need arises; follow-up regularly the program’s technical progress; develop a tracer for employability of the graduates; mediate and/or settle at first instance differences between MMPC and apprentice/s arising out of the Apprenticeship Agreement; and ensure that graduates shall be given priority for hiring at the MMPC as regular seasonal workers when the need arises, or given referrals upon request.

DOLE-MMPC MOA SIGNING. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (3rd from right) and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) President and CEO Hikosaburo Shibata (3rd from left) lead the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) of the MMPC-DOLE Apprenticeship Program during the simple ceremony recently at the MMPC plant, Ortigas Extension, Cainta, Rizal. The other signatories are (L-R) University of Rizal System President Dr. Marita Canapi, TESDA Rizal Director Velma Salazar, Mitsubishi Motors Workers Union-Philippine President Francisco Mero, and DOLE Undersecretary for Labor Relations Rebecca C. Chato.