Baldoz: DOLE remains relevant

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment recently celebrated its 82nd Foundation Anniversary with the theme, “82 Taong Mahusay Na Serbisyo sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”

In Central Visayas, DOLE-7 marked the week-long celebration (Dec. 2 to 8) with an array of activities spearheaded and participated in by its attached agencies and social partners.

In a statement, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the Department has remained relevant because of its brand of public service excellence and strong commitment to provide Filipino workers prompt, better, and efficient services.

Baldoz said that on its 82nd anniversary, employees and officials of DOLE will also take center stage as a demonstration of the Department’s concern for its people, its best resource.

DOLE-7 acting director Exequiel Sarcauga said they prepared various events and activities in celebration of the 82 years of existence of the Department.

Among the events of DOLE-7 were the Trainees’ Day and their version of Libreng Serbisyo by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-7 and a free in-house seminar and a learning session by the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC)-7 and the National Labor Relations Commission-7th Division.

In coordination with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board-7 and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7, ECC’s learning session centered on the employees’ compensation program and giving relevant information to the attendees who were mostly employers, administrative officers, labor unions and human relations managers.

TESDA-7 also conducted its Technical-Vocational Institution and Students’ forum.

According to Sarcauga, the celebration did not only center on outreach programs for DOLE’s clients and beneficiaries, but also bring DOLE and its attached agencies closer and make them more united.

He said that one of the highlights of the celebration was the Sports Fest intended to give the officials, staff, and personnel of the DOLE and its attached agencies time to take a breather and a short respite from everyday work and build camaraderie, among others.

As part of the celebration, the RTWPB also awarded the Seal of Recognition to establishments for Service Quality and Two-Tiered System.

DOLE-7 also initiated a Kasambahay Forum, a convergence program done together with the Social Security Service, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig, RTWPB, TESDA, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-7 also conducted the OFW Family Day.

Apart from these, the DOLE through its Tri-City Field Office and the Cebu Provincial Field Office also conducted local and overseas job fairs last Dec. 5.

Together with the local government of Cebu City, the DOLE-TCFO facilitated a local job fair at the Cebu City Sports Center. It also conducted local and overseas job fairs in San Remegio, Cebu.

On December 21, another event set to take place in relation to the anniversary celebration is the DOLE 7-RCC Culminating Activity and Christmas Party, with the DOLE 7-RCC Got Talent as the highlight. — (FREEMAN)