CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan (PIA) – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bulacan Field Office has released P9.3 million worth of livelihood assistance and job support for various sectors in the province.
DOLE Central Luzon Assistant Regional Director Alejandro V. Inza Cruz led the awarding of livelihood packages to selected beneficiaries, including local government units, transport groups, micro-entrepreneurs, and families of child laborers.
Among the recipients were the Municipal Government of Paombong and Obando, which received P1 million and P500,000 worth of livelihood support, respectively.
A transport cooperative, the Malolos-Paombong-Hagonoy Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (MAPHAJODA) based in Hagonoy, received a P500,000 certificate of eligibility to support their operations.
In Guiguinto, micro entrepreneurs received livelihood grants worth ₱30,000.
In partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Meycauayan City, DOLE also provided ₱250,000 worth of livelihood starter kits to 25 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) to help develop their productive skills and reintegrate them into society through micro-livelihood projects.
Meanwhile, to eradicate child labor, DOLE awarded ₱900,000 worth of livelihood aid to 30 parents of child laborers (PCL), with each family receiving P30,000 worth of raw materials.
Further, the agency also released P6.2 million as salaries for the 1,185 Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/displaced workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries in San Miguel town.
DOLE Bulacan Field Office reminded thousands of job seekers to apply only to companies that are compliant with the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines.
DOLE Bulacan Senor Mediator-Arbiter Atty. Erwin Angeles emphasized that employment with labor code-compliant companies ensures access to fair wages, 13th-month pay, social protection and union rights such as participation in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
It also includes benefits, particularly those provided by the Social Security System (SSS), such as during pregnancy of women, retirement, sickness, disability, death, funeral and even if they lose a job.
As part of its continuing employment facilitation efforts, DOLE Bulacan partnered with various institutions to organize multiple job fairs across the province.
On the first day, 23 employers opened 1,500 job opportunities in Robinson’s Place Malolos, in coordination with the Provincial Youth, Sports and Public Employment Service Office (PYSPESO).
On the second day, a total of 40 local employers and four overseas employers opened 5,609 job vacancies in the City of San Jose Del Monte Convention Center, wherein 173 applicants were hired-on the-spot (HOTS) and 157 were in the pipeline to be hired, out of the 782 total job seekers.
DOLE also supported the SM City Marilao-led job fair on the third day that opened an additional 1,700 jobs for Bulakenyos. (MJSC/SFV, PIA Region 3-Bulacan)
