DOLE Strengthens Social Protection Program

The Department of Labor and Employment took its first steps in 2008 towards the strengthening and making its social protection program accessible and user-friendly. Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion indicated that this is part of the DOLE's role in the overall governmental effort to alleviate poverty and respond to economic developments such as the growing strength of the Philippine Peso against the U.S. Dollar and the current unprecedented rise in oil prices worldwide.

The DOLE's immediate concerns center on the projected closure by the end of 2008 of the Franklin Baker Dessicated Coconut Factory in San Pablo City (affecting 400 regular and 800 non-regular employees) and the possible displacement of about 800 employees in the transfer of the operation of the Skyway from the PNCC Skyway Corporation to CITRA. Brion stated that in both instances, the DOLE will activate its "DOLE Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) for the prevention of job losses and assistance to displaced workers."

In the case of Franklin Baker, efforts are still underway to convince the Franklin Baker management to defer the planned closure, or alternatively, to devote the Franklin Baker assets in San Pablo City to other productive uses that will generate employment and revenues for the City.

Hand in hand with these moves, the DOLE will start the profiling of the affected employees within the week of January 6, 2008 to determine what responses to offer to them. The DOLE is looking at the possibility of joining hands with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Authority to offer training and livelihood projects on activities centering on coconuts, - the main raw materials thatFranklin Baker will no longer use when it closes operations. The DOLE shall likewise explore, through TESDA, training for employment for the family members of the affected employees. Backstopping these DOLE activities at the local level is Congresswoman Ivy Arago of the 3rd District of Laguna.
Conciliation conferences are still in progress for the Notice of Strike that PNCC workers filed and over which the DOLE has assumed jurisdiction. Despite the pendency of this case, Brion said that he is "taking a pro-active stance" and has already "ordered the DOLE NCR Region, through Regional Director Rey Agravante, to announce that the Adjustment Measures Program is ready to help PNCC workers who already want to avail of the program".

"We are not pre-judging the case. We simply want affected PNCC workers to know that our social protection is ready for them as soon as they decide to come under its coverage" according to Brion.

As in the case of Franklin Baker, a profiling exercise shall be the first step to determine the available skills among the workers and their particular needs. Interested parties may contact the NCR Regional Director's Office at 967 Maligaya St., Malate, Manila or through telephone number 497-3002.

The Labor Secretary affirmed that the vigorous implementation of the DOLE-AMP Program is in accordance with the President's overall social protection thrust in 2008 and with the government's efforts to reduce poverty. "Social protection, along with safety net measures, are anti-poverty in nature. We are particularly concerned with the informal sector - the self-employed urban workers, the rural workers, the women and youth, the disabled, and indigenous people - and we are slowly but surely moving into these sectors".

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