BALANGA CITY — Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque on Monday admitted that the number of unemployed will continue to rise as a result of the global economic crisis but that government has quick channel for re-employment and the extension of livelihood projects for displaced workers.
“Definitely, tataas ang unemployment subalit ang maganda, may mabilis na channel naman tayo for re-employment at livelihood programs,” the secretary said after distributing more than P16 million-checks for livelihood projects of fishermen, displaced workers and the youth in various towns of Bataan.
He said he was concerned of the problem and so they were doing something. He said that there are presently 800,000 job orders available in different countries for Filipino workers. “Tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapadala natin ng ating mga manggagawa sa ibang bansa bagama’t inaasahan natin na may darating pa na mawawalan ng trabaho,” Roque said.
The secretary disclosed that 15,000 workers have been added to the number of unemployed because of the global economic crisis plus 19,000 workers affected by compressed work hours.
He said that his office has coordinated with other departments of government to help handle job losses. “We have established a network with other government offices like the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Trade and Industry and the others,” the DOLE chief said.
On complaints of some Overseas Filipino Workers that they do not feel the help of government, the secretary said “We will try to do something about it and we will do the best we can.” As to the reported retrenchment of workers of Amkor (a semi-conductor company), he said it was not definite yet.
He refuted claims that 35,000 out of 80,000 workers at the Laguna Techno Park will be laid off. He also said that the DOLE deputy director in Region 3 went to Hanjin to investigate the recent accident at the Korean shipbuilding company in the Subic Bay Freeport.
Roque went to Balanga City and distributed checks worth P966,250 each for fishermen in the towns of Pilar, Orion, Limay, Morong and Bagac. This is under DOLE’s program ISLA or Integrated Services for Livelihood in Advancement of fishefolks.
Other checks for P1,864,500 each were handed to the mayors of Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, Abucay and Mariveles for livelihood projects of displaced workers and the youth. Limay town received more than P800,000 while the barangay chairman of Lamao in Limay got P1.39 million. This is under the department’s TUPAD or Tulong Pangkabuhayan for Displaced Workers project and like ISLA checks, these are all dole-outs.
Pilar Mayors Carlos Pizarro, Jr., and Tony Raymundo of Orion thanked the secretary for the assistance. Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo said they have chosen the out-of-school youth as the town’s beneficiaries. “Malapit na silang mabuyo sa fraternities dahil sa kawalan ng hanapbuhay at malaking bagay ang tulong na ito ni Secretary Roque na ating kababayan,” the mayor said.
“Definitely, tataas ang unemployment subalit ang maganda, may mabilis na channel naman tayo for re-employment at livelihood programs,” the secretary said after distributing more than P16 million-checks for livelihood projects of fishermen, displaced workers and the youth in various towns of Bataan.
He said he was concerned of the problem and so they were doing something. He said that there are presently 800,000 job orders available in different countries for Filipino workers. “Tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapadala natin ng ating mga manggagawa sa ibang bansa bagama’t inaasahan natin na may darating pa na mawawalan ng trabaho,” Roque said.
The secretary disclosed that 15,000 workers have been added to the number of unemployed because of the global economic crisis plus 19,000 workers affected by compressed work hours.
He said that his office has coordinated with other departments of government to help handle job losses. “We have established a network with other government offices like the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Trade and Industry and the others,” the DOLE chief said.
On complaints of some Overseas Filipino Workers that they do not feel the help of government, the secretary said “We will try to do something about it and we will do the best we can.” As to the reported retrenchment of workers of Amkor (a semi-conductor company), he said it was not definite yet.
He refuted claims that 35,000 out of 80,000 workers at the Laguna Techno Park will be laid off. He also said that the DOLE deputy director in Region 3 went to Hanjin to investigate the recent accident at the Korean shipbuilding company in the Subic Bay Freeport.
Roque went to Balanga City and distributed checks worth P966,250 each for fishermen in the towns of Pilar, Orion, Limay, Morong and Bagac. This is under DOLE’s program ISLA or Integrated Services for Livelihood in Advancement of fishefolks.
Other checks for P1,864,500 each were handed to the mayors of Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, Abucay and Mariveles for livelihood projects of displaced workers and the youth. Limay town received more than P800,000 while the barangay chairman of Lamao in Limay got P1.39 million. This is under the department’s TUPAD or Tulong Pangkabuhayan for Displaced Workers project and like ISLA checks, these are all dole-outs.
Pilar Mayors Carlos Pizarro, Jr., and Tony Raymundo of Orion thanked the secretary for the assistance. Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo said they have chosen the out-of-school youth as the town’s beneficiaries. “Malapit na silang mabuyo sa fraternities dahil sa kawalan ng hanapbuhay at malaking bagay ang tulong na ito ni Secretary Roque na ating kababayan,” the mayor said.
