The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will build and deploy a pool of construction workers that will help in the rehabilitation and repair of infrastructure and other facilities that were damaged by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon on July 27.
Director Rolly Francia, head of the DOLE Information and Public Service, said the intention is to provide emergency employment for local residents as the national government moves to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure, particularly in Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
He said DOLEis is now working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the identification of beneficiaries and their training for the jobs needed in the rehabilitation process in the two regions, especially in Abra, Benguet and Ilocos Sur.
“The project is aimed at building a pool of construction workers to be tapped by the local government units (LGUs) for the repair and rehabilitation of facilities and other installations damaged by the earthquake,” said Francia.
At least 40 batches composed each of 25 trainees will be identified, trained and deployed in areas where rehabilitation will be done.
The emergency employment covers mason works, carpentry, electrical wiring and other jobs needed for the repair and rehabilitation process.
Francia said a memorandum circular will be issued by the DOLE and the TESDA for this program.
Based on the memorandum, TESDA will provide the initial stage of skills training program for the local residents that would be identified by the LGUs.
DOLE, on the other hand, will assist in the identification of beneficiaries and in implementing livelihood programs and other emergency employment projects.
So far, Francia said the DOLE has already released P32 million of the P50 million that the department has committed to assist the residents affected by the earthquake in Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.