In Lapu-Lapu City: Cash-for-work eyed for 23 fishermen

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government will give cash-for-work program to the 23 fishermen who reportedly became victims of forced labor in the seawaters of Balabac Island in Palawan last December.

Mayor Paz Radaza said aside from the City Welfare Services' evaluation and giving of relief goods consumable for two weeks, it will also push through with tapping the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7.

"Ang cash-for-work, naay sweldo og naa sila'y work and naa sab mag-monitor sa ila and they really need to work hard for it," Radaza said.

The cash-for-work program will provide temporary employment to the distressed or displaced individuals through participating mitigation, rehabilitation or risk reduction projects or activities in a community.

This will be managed by local government unit's social welfare and development offices and the recipients of the program are granted with cash to meet requirements for food and other basic necessities.

Since the government is constantly doing follow-ups with DSWD, Radaza said specific assignment will be given to the fishermen after the two social welfare unit's assessment and while this is done, Radaza also said she will coordinate with the barangay captains in terms of job recruitment.

Radaza said the assessment will go through family backgrounds, status of each individual, whether he or she is single, married or widowed, among others.

The program to be implemented will run for a month to see if the victims are capable to handle the job and after the given period, they will be granted a permanent job, according to Radaza.

The city will aid the families of the victims by giving a job to at least one member of the family.

Radaza had said earlier that there are job vacancies in Mactan Economic Processing Zone that are possible for recommendation and alternative trainings for livelihood will be provided as well for the fishermen. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)