Nov 152013
 
DOLE sets aside P50M for Yolanda job program

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has earmarked P50 million to provide livelihood to displaced workers in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda. DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz told reporters at the sidelines of the 3rd Philippine Manufacturers and Producers Summit of the Federation of Philippine Industries yesterday, DOLE is ready to provide P50 million for the cash-for-work program in typhoon-affected areas. “All the P50 million will be spent for cash-for-work there (typhoon-affected areas),” she said. She said the fund would be used as payroll for displaced workers to be hired for temporary jobs such as clearing of debris as well as rehabilitation work. “We want to start the program within the year but we need the work plan which will come from the LGU (local government units),” she said. “The idea is to have the P50 million immediately accessible,” she added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The hiring of workers would depend on the jobs identified by the LGU. As the DOLE’s office in Leyte was destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda, the Labor chief said they have no estimate of the number of displaced workers due to the typhoon at the moment. Baldoz noted that most of the workers in the Eastern Visayas region, which covers provinces hit by the typhoon, are employed by small and medium enterprises. “The way I see it, everyone there needs jobs,” she said. The DOLE is still in the process of restoring its operations in the province with Read More …

Nov 102013
 
DSWD in dire need of volunteers in Cebu to repack relief goods

Typhoon Yolanda relief ops in Pasay. Volunteers are repacking relief goods at the DSWD ware house in Pasay City on Saturday, November 9, for the victims of typhoon Yolanda. DANNY PATA Danny Pata As Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras in a press conference on Sunday announced to gathered media that routes by land into Tacloban City have opened up, he also called on the public, especially those in Cebu to volunteer with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in repacking relief goods for those in Tacloban and other hard hit places. “Cebu has been targeted as a logistics center, so DSWD is appealing for repacking volunteers in Cebu,” Almendras said, noting that the DSWD in Cebu is in dire need of volunteers to help repack goods. “We have to step it up, palakasin pa ang repacking sa Cebu, kasi it is our closest logistics center we have for repacking,” he said. DSWD aims to give families food supplies enough to last at least five days, Almendras added. – Patricia Denise Chiu / KDM, GMA News 

Nov 102013
 
Palace congratulates Arida, Donaire for bringing positive news amid Yolanda tragedy

Malacañang on Sunday thanked Ariela Arida and Nonito Doniare for putting a smile on Filipinos’ faces, despite super Typhoon Yolanda that left hundreds dead in its wake. “I think any sort of positive news to us would be very welcome at this point, and we extend our congratulations to Ms. Arida and to the Filipino Flash for excelling in their particular fields—si Ms. Arida, syempre, doon sa Miss Universe pageant; si Nonito Donaire doon sa kanyang laban,” Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview aired over state-run dzRB. Donaire scored a come-from-behind ninth round knockout win, Sunday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas; while Miss Philippines-Universe Ariella Arida was 3rd runner-up in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant held in Moscow, Russia, early Sunday Morning (Manila). “We appreciate the efforts to bring a little bit of a smile to the faces of countrymen who are going through so much in the aftermath of the typhoon,” Valte added. Valte also expressed optimism that the victims will overcome the tragedy and damage brought about by the super typhoon. “We have no doubt that our citizens will get up and rise again. There is no doubt to that. We have seen that in the past, that no matter how heavy the calamity, we have always managed to pick ourselves up and to get back to our normal lives—kung ano ho man ‘yung normal pa sa atin. At katulad nga po ng sinabi ng Pangulo bago ho tumama itong bagyong Read More …

Nov 072013
 
Palace: No suspension of work in govt offices

Despite the threat of Typhoon Yolanda, Malacañang on Friday said that there is no suspension of work in government offices yet. “No announcement on work suspension from ES [Executive Secretary’s] office; not warranted by present and forecast weather situation,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a text message to reporters. He issued the statement after Yolanda, dubbed the most powerful typhoon in the world this year, made landfall in the Philippines on Friday morning. On Thursday night, President Benigno Aquino addressed the public in a televised message and warned them about the danger Yolanda brings. — Kimberly Jane T. Tan /LBG, GMA News