The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz flew to Zamboanga City last March 19, 2014 to personally witness the grand regional launching of DOLE's programs and projects held at the Convention Center of Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City.

The launching was attended by more than 300 guests composed of partners from the Local Government Units, Regional Coordinating Committee, National Government Agencies, Academic Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Intermediaries, beneficiaries of the livelihood, emergency and internship projects, and DOLE staff who witnessed the unveiling of the package of services to be offered by the Department.

The grand event paved the way for the Labor Secretary and Labor Communications Office (LCO) Director Nicon F. Fameronag to grace various activities of the region to include the induction of Education Industry Tripartite Council (EITC), signing of Voluntary Code of Good Practices in the Education, release/awarding of checks for livelihood projects, rolled out of approved Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) pledges, signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) on DOLE-DOST Convergence Program and DOLE-LGU Zamboanga City employment project in support to the emergency employment, signing of Memorandum of Understanding with SRN Fast Seacrafts, Inc. (owner of Weesam Express) and Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc., and awarding of certificates of appreciation to the partner agencies that helped in the advocacy of the Labor and Employment Education Services (LEES).

In her message, Sec. Baldoz emphasized the need to advocate DOLE's programs and projects for public awareness. She further stressed that DOLE stands to assist micro, small, and medium enterprise to improve productivity. "May kuwento ang bawat kwenta ng DOLE sa daang matuwid", she said.

During the event, she personally turned over 4 million worth of livelihood grants to 422 beneficiaries of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) and Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB), and to 44 grantees under the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO).

Before setting off her feet out of the city, the Secretary, together with the DOLE 9 officials and family of agencies, witnessed the viewing of the LEES videos at M/V Stephanie Marie, a vessel of Aleson Shipping Lines Inc., plying the route of Isabela City - Zamboanga City and vice versa.

The LEES is an infomercial crafted to further intensify the campaign and cascade all the programs and services of DOLE and its family of agencies at the grassroots level.

DOLE-9 Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano disclosed that a total of P28Million under SPES was already committed by government and private employers to employ 14 thousand students. He added that a total amount of more than P7 Million was already approved and released to various partners to finance different individual and group livelihood projects of 1,239 beneficiaries composed of women, displaced persons, rural workers, returning and undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers, rank and file workers, and home-based workers.

Director Cano added that funds for livelihood projects were taken from the General Appropriations, GPB, and NRCO.

Reported by Gay Iris T.S. Tangcalagan

LCO-Des. DOLE RO 9