TIM eMagazine Issue 3 | Page 19

TIM eMagazine Vol.1 Issue 3 DOLE regions report no company shutdowns, no workers displaced— Baldoz L abor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said initial reports from DOLE regional officials in regions affected by Typhoon Pablo show there were no companies that have reported shutdowns in their operations or their workers displaced. “I am gratified of these initial reports, but my directive for them to continue their assessments as the weather clears still stand,” she said. “Their quick reaction teams need to validate any report in their regions, and to assess the situation, including those of DOLE-assisted livelihood projects, whether these need restoration or other forms of assistance. They should also make prompt recommendation on the kind of intervention that may be needed,” she added. Baldoz said she is awaiting for more detailed assessment reports from the regional and field offices of the DOLE. DOLE CAR Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena was first to report there were no workers displaced in the region as of yesterday, but said the DOLE regional office is validating information that three DOLEassisted livelihood projects in Baguio City and two in Kalinga were ravaged by Typhoon Lando. Region 1 Director Grace Ursua, Region 2 Director Sixto Rodriguez, NCR Director Alex Avila, and Region 4-A Director Zenaida Angara-Campita reported the same. “No report of workers displaced or companies shutting down operation, but we continue to monitor the regional situation,” they said. In Region 3, Regional Director Ana Dione said that while the regional office has not received any notice from companies shutting down operation or workers being displaced, she has initially assessed 7,000 workers’ families needing assistance for various damages to property because of the typhoon. “We are already conducting profiling activities,” she said, “and readying our recommendation.” In Region 5, the DOLE regional office said in its report that workers’ families affected by the Typhoon has reached 61, but there were no reports of affected informal or formal sector workers. All the regional directors have said they are coordinating their action with other concerned agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, as well as with local government units in gathering information on the effects of the typhoon. Baldoz last Saturday ordered all regional directors in areas of Typhoon Lando’s path to be on a 24/7 mode, to assess the effects of the typhoon on companies and their workers and DOLE-assisted livelihood projects, and to be ready to implement emergency employment for displaced workers under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP). All the regional directors have said they are coordinating their action with other concerned agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development. 19