CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III leads the region-wide turn-over of assistance worth P28,752,616.90 to some 5,330 beneficiaries in northern Mindanao, September 23-24, 2021.
DOLE-10 Regional Director Albert E. Gutib said Bello’s two-day event covers the areas of Iligan City, Alae, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental.
Gutib said a total of P13,464,580 worth of financial aid will be awarded by Bello, himself, to some 1,944 beneficiaries in Iligan City and the Lanao del Norte province.
Moreover, financial assistance covers (1) DOLE’s TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers; (2) DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP); (3) OWWA’s Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay (BPBH);
(4) Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP); (5) OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP); and (6) Tulong Pangkabuhayan Para sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang-OFWs (Tulong-Puso).
Bello also awards establishments in the private sector on DOLE Safety Seal, as compliant to the government’s health and safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus in their workplaces.
Gutib said Bello is then to proceed to Alae, Bukidnon for the awarding of the department’s financial assistance worth P6,861,036.90 to some 750 beneficiaries.
The said financial assistance covers the same programs mentioned with the addition of Jobstart Philippines; Mission RACE; Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES); and OWWA’s Bereavement Assistance.
Likewise, on the second day of ceremonies, Bello awards the 1,358 beneficiaries in Cagayan de Oro City amounting to P6,540,000 on the said aforementioned programs with the highlight of the new BikeCINATION Program of the department.
For Misamis Oriental beneficiaries, DOLE’s package of assistance worth p1,887,000 is set to be awarded to some 1,278 beneficiaries of the province.
DILP or Kabuhayan Program reduces the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers by providing them access to grant assistance for capacity building on livelihood ventures either for individual or group undertakings.
DOLE’s TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.
DOLE BikeCINATION is a special project under DILP to incentivize workers who have completed the two doses of COVID-19 vaccines and cushion the impact of the pandemic to the workers in the informal economy and at the same time pump prime the growth of the economy.
The Tulong-Puso is a one-time grant assistance that aims to support the formation, enhancement or restoration of livelihood projects/undertaking of OFW organizations. The financial assistance is based on the project requirement up to a maximum of P1 million for OFW organizations with 51 or more members.
OWWA’s support to the educational needs of their members’ beneficiaries is also remarkable. One beneficiary will also receive an assistance of P10,000 under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP).
ODSP is an educational Assistance of P20,000 per school year to qualified dependents of an active OFW whose salary is not more than $600.
ELAP is an education and livelihood grant intended for beneficiaries of deceased OWWA member-OFWs to continue in their schooling from elementary to college.
The regional visit of the Labor Secretary is part of strengthening the implementation of different DOLE programs nationwide. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)
