BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – The Department of Labor and Employment, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), is all set to conduct training and upskilling of Filipino workforce based on the labor market and industry needs, as well as to prepare for new investors that may come into the country.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, in a recent interview here, shared that strengthening the Philippine workforce is in line with the goal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bring in inclusive growth and reduce poverty incidence through the creation of more employment opportunities.
It is also in preparation for the manpower requirements for the business/investment offers and deals that the President made during his official visits abroad once it materialized, Laguesma said.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, in an interview, gives an outlook on what the labor department and its attached agencies will focus on this 2023. (CCD/PIA CAR)
He also shared that DOLE with TESDA already tested and proven successful a training cum production and employment assistance for those affected by the July 27, 2022 earthquake that devastated some parts of Cordillera and Regions 1 and 2.
With P38 million funding, trainings on carpentry, masonry, plumbing and electrical wiring installation were conducted. The idea is to have a pool of skilled workers who will be tapped for the repairs of damage houses and structures especially those owned by the government such as public schools, Laguesma said.
“In the last few months, we noticed work progression. Nadagdagan ang nagkaroon ng hanapbuhay. Nagpapatuloy ung hamon sa DOLE; quality of jobs is something that we really want to push for,” he stressed.
“Karamihan nasa low paying, low-skilled jobs and upgrading and upscaling ng ating mga manggagawa will bring improvement sa trabaho and additional benefits/income for workers and their families,” he added.
For 2023, the DOLE will continue to strengthen its livelihood assistance programs and the employment assistance programs for the youth such as the Special Program for Employment of Students and the Government Internship Program.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (right) with DOLE – CAR Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra for the official turnover of the DILP project for the Baguio Pony Boys Project. (CCD/PIA CAR)
The DOLE Executive Committee headed by Sec. Laguesma visited the city last December 27, 2022 for the launching of a DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) for the Baguio Pony Boys – those involve in the horse back riding business at the Wright Park.
An inter – agency collaboration in partnership with the City Government of Baguio, the project dubbed as “Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso: Pony Boys” aims to further improve the livelihood of the project beneficiaries and their families.
The DOLE through its Cordillera Regional Office headed by Director Nathaniel Lacambra granted almost P1 million livelihood assistance each for convenience store project of the Wright Park Pony Boys Horse Handlers Association and the landscaping and organic fertilizer production project of Kabalyero Guardians Association. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
