What is happening globally in relation to economics, trade and labor is starting to hit Central Luzon. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Luzon recently reported some 6,247 private sector workers being laid-off by firms allegedly affected by the global economic crisis.
In a briefing with the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), DOLE regional director Nathaniel Lacambra told investors to brave for the worse and face the realities of time. This only shows that even the national government agencies are now acknowledging the fact that our country is not spared from the economic woes around the globe. I doubt if Lacambra heard President Arroyo recently because they don’t seem to be synchronized in their pronouncements.
Although the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) is assuring its 57,000 workers that lay-offs will be the last options by the locators, still there were 2,075 job displacements recorded inside the Freeport Zone since November. And the DOLE is seriously monitoring these retrenchments.
Aside from this, DOLE is seriously watching the dcrease in income of most of the workers hit by cost-cutting measures adopted by their employers. It is abrave call coming from the DOLE considering that their pronouncement could either start panic to the general workers or could cause depression among Filipinos. Come to think of it, if Central Luzon could be worse hit by the crisis, how much more in other regions where job opportunities are even less.
Remember that Central Luzon is host to the three largest ecozones and other industrial areas in the country. The Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Clark Freeport Zone, Luisita Industrial Park, Bataan Economic Zone, Casiguran Economic Zone and Hermosa Economic Zone.
The retrenchments and austerity measures everywhere in the region are pushing the people to look for other livelihood and means of living. Most of the Filipinos opt to look for jobs abroad even in the most dangerous lands like Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, others are looking into the possible increase of crime rates in the region, as well as all over the country. Of course, we don’t want this to happen.
It is a consolation to learn that the national government through the office of SCADC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 Dir. Blesila Lantayona is now working on an Emergency Livelihood Project for the region.
This is good news amid the ongoing labor woes and other concerns on lack of livelihood.
The only thing that the government could immediately do is to give “hope” to our people and teach them how to face the current crisis.
As I have said before, if we could not increase our income, it is better to decrease our expenses. Each Filipino family can help themselves while there are scarce sources of income. Each can start saving water and energy inside their homes to cut down their expenses. It is also wise not to travel or spend much on unnecessary leisure activities now that the crisis is gradually being felt in all sectors of the society.
Aside from DTI and SCADC, Lacambra said the government is ready with various measures to help workers being displaced by the worldwide crisis. He is optimistic that DOLE in Central Luzon would get substantial allocation for livelihood assistance for displaced workers.
Again, this would mean months of waiting for those who were displaced so the best thing to do is look for alternative solutions. The local government units should not stop helping and checking their constituents. They could start by coming up with an inventory of all the retrenched workers under their jurisdiction. For those living in rural areas and lands are still available, the displaced workers can start farming or planting while waiting for other opportunities. The only point here is that we should not lose hope and we should help each other amid the growing concern on global crisis.
In a briefing with the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), DOLE regional director Nathaniel Lacambra told investors to brave for the worse and face the realities of time. This only shows that even the national government agencies are now acknowledging the fact that our country is not spared from the economic woes around the globe. I doubt if Lacambra heard President Arroyo recently because they don’t seem to be synchronized in their pronouncements.
Although the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) is assuring its 57,000 workers that lay-offs will be the last options by the locators, still there were 2,075 job displacements recorded inside the Freeport Zone since November. And the DOLE is seriously monitoring these retrenchments.
Aside from this, DOLE is seriously watching the dcrease in income of most of the workers hit by cost-cutting measures adopted by their employers. It is abrave call coming from the DOLE considering that their pronouncement could either start panic to the general workers or could cause depression among Filipinos. Come to think of it, if Central Luzon could be worse hit by the crisis, how much more in other regions where job opportunities are even less.
Remember that Central Luzon is host to the three largest ecozones and other industrial areas in the country. The Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Clark Freeport Zone, Luisita Industrial Park, Bataan Economic Zone, Casiguran Economic Zone and Hermosa Economic Zone.
The retrenchments and austerity measures everywhere in the region are pushing the people to look for other livelihood and means of living. Most of the Filipinos opt to look for jobs abroad even in the most dangerous lands like Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, others are looking into the possible increase of crime rates in the region, as well as all over the country. Of course, we don’t want this to happen.
It is a consolation to learn that the national government through the office of SCADC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 3 Dir. Blesila Lantayona is now working on an Emergency Livelihood Project for the region.
This is good news amid the ongoing labor woes and other concerns on lack of livelihood.
The only thing that the government could immediately do is to give “hope” to our people and teach them how to face the current crisis.
As I have said before, if we could not increase our income, it is better to decrease our expenses. Each Filipino family can help themselves while there are scarce sources of income. Each can start saving water and energy inside their homes to cut down their expenses. It is also wise not to travel or spend much on unnecessary leisure activities now that the crisis is gradually being felt in all sectors of the society.
Aside from DTI and SCADC, Lacambra said the government is ready with various measures to help workers being displaced by the worldwide crisis. He is optimistic that DOLE in Central Luzon would get substantial allocation for livelihood assistance for displaced workers.
Again, this would mean months of waiting for those who were displaced so the best thing to do is look for alternative solutions. The local government units should not stop helping and checking their constituents. They could start by coming up with an inventory of all the retrenched workers under their jurisdiction. For those living in rural areas and lands are still available, the displaced workers can start farming or planting while waiting for other opportunities. The only point here is that we should not lose hope and we should help each other amid the growing concern on global crisis.
