REHAB BEGINS. Workers clearing the roads and cleaning the canals as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Boracay Island on Thursday (April 26, 2018). (Photo by Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
BORACAY ISLAND -- A total of 1,000 displaced informal sector workers from Barangay Balabag started their 30-day emergency employment on the second day of closure of the island.
The employment is through the integrated livelihood emergency program, also known as the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disavantaged/Displaced Workers” (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a media interview Friday afternoon, DOLE-6 (Western Visayas) Assistant Regional Director Salome Siaton said that these workers are just part of the first batch of 2,500 displaced workers, who will be provided with the emergency employment of the department.
Prior to the closure, these workers from the informal sector served as masseurs, porters, boatmen, among others.
Siaton said they are tapped to work in the ongoing rehabilitation works in the island involving cleanup of canal and drainage systems.
Each worker will receive PHP323.50 a day or they will receive more than PHP9,000 within 30 days, she said. They are likewise allowed to be off every Sunday.
Siaton said that they will be paid every 15 days and these workers will receive half of their salary on May 18.
Aside from their salary, they are also covered by the accident insurance under the Government Service Insurance System, Siaton said.
Meanwhile, to complete the first batch of 2,500 workers, Siaton said that the 1,500 workers from the village of Manocmanoc will be starting their work within this week.
But since Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III committed to provide 5,000 emergency employment to displaced workers from the informal sector in the island, “the remaining second batch of 2,500 workers, we will still be profiling the beneficiaries,” she said.
After the 30-day emergency employment, Siaton said that workers could avail of other services from other line agencies of the government like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
On the other hand, Siaton said that they are still on the process of profiling the formal workers.
As of Thursday night, she said that they have already profiled some 18, 206 workers from the formal sector. “Probably, this will reach big number too,” Siaton said.
She said that they have initially proposed to the Department of Budget Management to provide assistance to these workers.
“But we cannot provide the necessary information since it is not yet approved,” she added. (PNA)
