1,240 Ormoc workers hired for emergency employment

An initial 1,240 workers have been hired in Ormoc City as part of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) emergency employment or cash-for-work program for those affected by typhoon “Yolanda.”

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said Ormoc City is the first local government unit to avail of the emergency program.

"The Ormoc City Engineering Office is on top of--and our partner in--the program implementation. Based on its assessment, 48 out of Ormoc City's 110 barangays are ready for the program. Each of the 48 barangays are hiring 30 workers to clear up the sites for the construction of bunkhouses and to clean-up other debris resulting from the typhoon," said Baldoz. Workers will be paid a daily wage of P260, the minimum wage rate in the region, and will be provided social security benefits, including insurance in case of accidents. Baldoz said she has directed authorities to relax hiring requirements for the program.

"All that workers need to do are such details as the name and date of birth. We will use this as basis for payroll and, in case of accident insurance payment, forward the request to Government Service Insurance System," she said.

The DOLE is coordinating with the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, and Public Works and Highways in the implementation of the emergency employment in areas where the bunkhouses will be built. Baldoz earlier said local government units who wish to avail of the emergency employment program should submit their work plans.

"They will tell us how many workers will work and for how long, which should not be less than 15 days as per our agreement with Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development," she said.