THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has launched in the City of Naga, Cebu, the DOLE Clinic, the region’s contribution to the Department’s goal of establishing a mechanism of bringing the DOLE closer to the community.
Attended by various sectors and partner industries, the launch, a first involving a city government in the whole Central Visayas, was also graced by City Mayor Kristine Chiong, who personally lauded the DOLE for actively implementing its programs and services among her constituents.
She welcomed the establishment of the DOLE Clinic in the city in addition to the DOLE’s major programs already availed of by Nagahanons, such as the Special Program for Employment of Students; DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program; and the various employment-facilitation programs.
“Development does not only involve the city’s newly constructed facilities and infrastructure projects but also the common people having a means of living on their own. That’s why we are happy for the presence of the DOLE. Thank you for giving our people ample opportunity to gain employment,” Chiong said in her speech.
With the implementation of the DOLE Clinic in the city, the mayor reiterated their commitment to serve as an implementing arm for DOLE programs and services.
The establishment of the DOLE Clinic at the Public Employment Service Offices (Peso), DOLE 7 acting Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao said, is a demonstration of the DOLE’s intention of seeking help from the local government units insofar as efficient and effective delivery of its services is concerned.
The endeavor, he added, is one of the strategic thrusts of the government, more particularly of the DOLE’s bringing public service closer to the people.
“We purposely do this because it is our goal of bringing the DOLE closer to the community by providing them preemployment facilitation, labor-standards enforcement, dispute resolution and livelihood assistance, among others,” he said.
Ticao added the DOLE Clinic will be the center of the Department’s public assistance at the community level offering information, services and referral to appropriate agencies on matters, such as local and overseas employment, entitlements under general labor standards and occupational safety and health standards, labor relations and livelihood assistance.
Also taking place right after the launch was the memorandum of agreement signing between the local government unit of the city of Naga and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA 7) for the establishment of the OWWA Help Desk at the Peso Office.
OWWA 7 Acting Regional Director Mae Codilla thanked Chiong for giving them the chance of formalizing the partnership of the OWWA and the city government.
The OWWA Help Desk, she said, aims to protect and promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families living in the city.