CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment-7 has paid for the wages amounting to ?4.1 million to 916 workers which includes 50 painters, who worked for 10 days for the mural paintings on the street islands and walkways along Hoops Dome Road, Lapu-Lapu City as part of the service quality improvement program (SQIP) of the department.
The mural paintings done in the city are central to the service quality improvement program that was executed by DOLE-7 in close coordination with TESDA and the city to attract tourists both local and international and those who may hold activities in the city’s Hoops Dome.
The SQIP seeks to mainstream “a culture of quality, innovation and continuous improvement across all levels of the DOLE with the aim of providing streamlined error-free services”.
It is implemented in furtherance of the DOLE strategic objective to optimize organizational performance, enhance efficiency in the delivery of programs and services, and promote consistency in policy and program implementation.
Early this week, DOLE-7 Regional Director Lilia A. Estillore joined Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, TESDA-7 Assistant Regional Director Floro T. Ringca, City Councilor Annabeth Quizon, DOLE Tri-City Field Office chief Marites G. Mercado and Island Premium Paints director Glenn Enginco for the ribbon cutting and blessing of the now beautifully painted street islands and walkways in the area.
The artists behind the mural paintings are all members of the Mactan Artist Guild, which was also present during the blessing.
Estillore, in a statement, said that this project is an activity that could stir, ignite and boost the tourism industry.
“With the Mactan International Airport located in Lapu-Lapu City being an entry point for tourists, local and international, we thought of an innovative project that will help make the streets of the city inviting and attractive to the tourists. And while doing it, we are also empowering the people who are behind the mural paintings by providing them skills training and salary in doing the job,” said Estillore.
As part of the convergence project, TESDA-7 provided skills training on basic painting to some identified workers in the city.
Estillore added that upon completion of the training, they took part of the basic painting jobs done on the street islands on the Hoops Dome Road where they got to work and were paid by DOLE-7 through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD).
The city government on the other hand, took charge of the logistics more particularly on the provision of needed painting materials.
Chan has expressed his gratitude to the paint company for their generosity in providing free paints for the project as the city has saved millions of cost of the paints.
Estillore added that this convergence project is just the beginning of more collaborative and innovative projects, together with their partners under the SQIP. — (FREEMAN)