MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) — The Panguil Bay Bridge connecting Tubod, Lanao del Norte, and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, will have a very positive effect in terms of generating employment because it opens new borders and reduces travel time from the two provinces as well as those from other regions or cities.
Ebba Acosta, provincial director of the Department of Labor and Employment-Misamis Occidental (DOLE-MisOcc), shared in Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, a media forum, that the bridge, once opened, will also boost economic activities in the province.
“Mas maka-generate og employment kay dili nato mahibaw-an, ang Tangub City karon kay booming na siya, daghan na kaayo mga commercial establishment natukod na karon sa Tangub, so naa na gyud ta daghan employment, nga makuha,” she said.
(We can generate more employment because we don’t know; Tangub City is now booming; many commercial establishments have been established in Tangub, so we have a lot of employment, which can be obtained.)
Regarding the workforce departing the province in search of better opportunities, the director stated that workers have the freedom to seek employment elsewhere. However, the province has made significant strides in improving its employment opportunities, particularly due to the provincial government’s efforts to encourage tourism investment.
“Ang Misamis Occidental karon is booming na sad siya. Because ang atong working governor karon grabe gyud pag-invite sa mga investors, not only working governor but also mayors, congressmen nato, ga-encourage na sila og mga investors nga mo adto sa Misamis Occidental,” she said.
(Misamis Occidental is now booming. Because our current working governor is very serious when inviting investors, not only the working governor but also our mayors and congressmen will encourage investors to come to Misamis Occidental.)
Meanwhile, DOLE MisOcc has implemented various DOLE programs in the province, to name a few: the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers Program (TUPAD), the Government Internship Program (GIP), and all others.
Between the beginning of the Marcos administration in 2022 and September 11, 2024, DOLE-10 has already distributed livelihood grants worth P521 million to 41,304 beneficiaries, while also paying 494,392 disadvantaged beneficiaries a total of P2.3 billion in TUPAD wages.
The DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) contributes to the governments’ agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation, substantial poverty reduction, and reducing the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers.
Additionally, TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that offers a safety net through temporary wage public employment projects for a duration of 10 to 90 days, either continuously or intermittently, depending on the type of work required. (JMOR/PIA-10)
