In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

DOLE offers emergency employment program in oil spill-hit Caluya

By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay

March 15, 2023, 3:52 pm

<p><strong>CLEANUP</strong>. The oil spill believed to have come from the oil tanker Princess Empress reached the shorelines of the island Municipality of Caluya in this undated photo. Department of Labor and Employment - Antique information officer Donnabelle Baldonado said on Wednesday (March 15, 2023) that 464 oil spill-affected residents of the Caluya availed of the emergency employment program focused on coastal cleanup starting on the same day.<em> (PNA photo courtesy of Caluya LGU)</em></p>

CLEANUP. The oil spill believed to have come from the oil tanker Princess Empress reached the shorelines of the island Municipality of Caluya in this undated photo. Department of Labor and Employment - Antique information officer Donnabelle Baldonado said on Wednesday (March 15, 2023) that 464 oil spill-affected residents of the Caluya availed of the emergency employment program focused on coastal cleanup starting on the same day. (PNA photo courtesy of Caluya LGU)

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided emergency employment to 464 oil spill-affected residents of Caluya, Antique under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

DOLE-Antique information officer Donnabelle Baldonado, in an interview, said the employment program focusing on coastal cleanup started Wednesday.

“The beneficiaries will be receiving PHP450 daily wage" for a 10-day coastal cleanup, Baldonado said.

The beneficiaries are from Barangays Semirara with 246, Tinogboc with 66, and Sibolo with 152.

The oil slick has covered at least 4 km. of the shoreline of Barangays Semirara and Tinogboc, and 2 km. in Sibolo.

These beneficiaries are the displaced fisherfolk, farmers, and seaweed planters due to the oil spill affecting their shorelines.

“The TUPAD workers are also being provided with personal protective equipment,” such as gloves, face masks, and boots as recommended by the Department of Health, Baldonado said.

They are also covered by the Government Service Insurance System Group Premium Accident Insurance to be able to make claims if something wrong arises during their 10-day work period.

The Municipality of Caluya was placed under a state of calamity due to an oil spill on March 6.

It was believed the oil spill came from the oil tanker Princess Empress carrying 800,000 liters of fuel when it sank at Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28. (PNA)

 

 

Comments