CLARK FREEPORT— The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today for the renewal of its satellite office in the Freeport.
The said agreement aims to enhance the collaboration and the ability to offer meaningful services to Clark locators and stakeholders, as well as to strengthen the partnership between CDC and DOLE.
Under the agreement, DOLE shall retain its office space and training room where it conducts and administers its many functions and services at the ‘One Stop Shop’ located at the Clark Skills and Training Center.
CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera signed the agreement with DOLE Secretary Atty. Bienvenido E. Laguesma, Pampanga Provincial Governor Dennis “Delta” G. Pineda, and Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda.
“This partnership with DOLE, with the local government, especially with the provincial government, CDC, and the private sector – the business sector, can make a difference. We’re moving forward after the pandemic. We’re moving forward because we are here doing the convergence and doing a whole of government approach,” Devanadera said.
Aside from retaining its office space in Clark, DOLE will also set up a help desk to offer assistance and provide up-to-date information on various government services and initiatives to all facets of employment.
According to Devanadera, there are also plans to expand the DOLE satellite office in Clark as discussed with Laguesma.
“This is a great occasion because there is something that we have to focus on, there is something that we have to strengthen and that is the welfare of our labor force,” she added.
For his part, Laguesma expressed his optimism for the partnership between CDC and DOLE as he delivered his special message after the signing ceremony.
“Today’s signing of the MOA means that this partnership remains strong and that the parties are committed to the vision and mission of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to prioritize job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the Philippine economy back on a high-growth path,” he mentioned.
Laguesma also thanked CDC for the continuous support and trust that the state-owned firm has given to DOLE since 2018.
“We also would like to take this opportunity to thank the CDC, Atty. Agnes Devanadera, for the continued trust in the Department. Rest assured that we will not waver and will continue to push for a more prosperous Philippines where business and the workers enjoy the decent and just returns on their contributions,” he said.
Also present during the event are DOLE Undersecretary for General Administration and Regional Operations Cluster Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III, DOLE OIC-Usec. For TUPAD Program Coordination Dominique Rubia-Tutay, and DOLE Usec. for Workers’ Welfare and Protection Cluster Atty. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez.
They were joined by DOLE Assistant Secretary for General Administration and Support to Operations Cluster Warren M. Miclat, DOLE Regional Director Geraldine M. Panlilio, DOLE Assistant Regional Director Alejandro V. Inza-Cruz, and DOLE OIC for Clark Jose Roberto L. Navata.
The signing ceremony was held at the Clark Visitor’s Center and was attended by CDC executives and officers, along with other DOLE officials.
In 2018, DOLE forged a partnership with CDC and established on the premises of the DOLE Clark Academy as a venue for continuing labor and industry cooperation wherein it has provided assistance to numerous workers, locators, and clients.
With this, DOLE Region 3 has been awarded for the initiative as the “Most Innovative Office” for its forward-thinking efforts and the department was also able to bring its services closer to both employers and the workers.
