OVER 84,000 individuals in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have benefited from a range of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) programs and services, including emergency employment, livelihood assistance, labor dispute resolution, and capacity development—with P430.75 million allocated specifically for emergency employment in 2024.
The collaborative efforts between DOLE’s regional offices in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and the BARMM Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) are aligned with the Department’s commitment to support the region’s goal of lasting peace and development formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed in December 2023.
𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program or the DOLE’s flagship emergency employment program, the Department has allocated P430.75 million benefiting 84,539 individuals, including 35,417 in Region IX, 25,925 in Region X, and 23,197 in Region XII.
Aside from providing immediate economic support, the TUPAD assistance also helps in the long-term integration of former combatants into the region’s socio-economic structures to ensure that they become contributing members of society.
In addition, the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) provided P43.64 million in livelihood assistance to 1,957 individuals. The livelihood assistance aims to create sustainable income-generating options to promote economic stability and development in BARMM.
The government, through DOLE’s Government Internship Program (GIP), has also invested P9.45 million to empower 410 young individuals in BARMM. This initiative provides paid training to prepare young people for public sector employment, fostering their long-term career growth and contributing to the region’s development.
𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
DOLE also extended its labor dispute resolution services to the region, ensuring continued labor justice for workers in BARMM.
Through its National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Regional Arbitration Branch in Region 12, DOLE facilitated the resolution of 10 labor cases filed by workers from Basilan and Cotabato City, addressing issues such as unpaid wages and illegal dismissals. Nine labor cases, including money claims and illegal dismissal cases filed by workers from Maguindanao Province and Cotabato City, were also resolved in the said arbitration branch.
These resolutions addressing labor conflicts effectively helped strengthen trust in legal and labor systems and foster a sense of fairness and peace in communities striving to rebuild from the effects of conflict.
Additionally, DOLE Regional Offices and their attached agencies undertook initiatives to enhance collaboration and service delivery in BARMM. These included providing technical assistance and conducting capacity-building sessions on key labor settlement mechanisms, such as the Single Entry Approach (SEnA).
Training sessions for Single Entry Approach Desk Officers (SEADO), or those responsible for implementing SEnA, were also conducted to ensure efficient and timely resolution of labor issues by MOLE personnel.
A Basic SEADO cum Labor Management Cooperation Training was held in Region IX from 16 to 18 April this year, in collaboration with the NLRC, National Conciliation and Mediation Board, and MOLE-BARMM. Simultaneously, Basic SEADO Training was conducted in Region XII, with the support of NCMB, NLRC, Employees’ Compensation Commission, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
To efficiently address labor-related concerns and provide technical support to workers in the region, DOLE has also established BARMM Assistance Desks in key locations in Region IX, including Zamboanga City at the MOLE Zamboanga Satellite Office and Isabela City at the MOLE Basilan Field Office.
By continuously providing technical assistance to the MOLE to effectively enforce labor standards, address employment concerns, and ensure labor justice, DOLE’s initiatives are helping communities recover from conflict and laying the groundwork for sustained progress.
These efforts also underscore the importance of inter-agency peace-building initiatives in the region that align with the overarching goals of the Normalization Program, which is the government’s initiative to help former combatants and their communities transition to peaceful and productive lives.
This article has been sourced from the Department of Labor and Employment – DOLE Facebook Page.
