Zamboanga City – The International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched on Friday a program called emergency employment project for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in this city.
Many people were displaced due to the 23-day standoff between government soldiers and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels loyal to founding chairman Nur Misuari.
The program is jointly implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
The emergency employment program, which is part of the city government’s early recovery effort, was able to enlist or hire at least 112 IDPs, the city’s Rehabilitation Livelihood Cluster said.
Those hired will take part in the various drainage clearing activities in Barangay Kasanyangan, Veterans Avenue, Pilar Street, Tugbungan, and Barangay Talon-Talon, under the supervision of the City Engineer’s Office.
These IDPs will receive have a salary amounting P280 per day and social benefits for the entire duration of the emergency employment program.
Meanwhile, another batch of 239 IDPs in Tulungatung received a sack of rice each last December 21 as compensation for work rendered under the food-for-work program.
The food-for-work program was implemented by the City Agriculture Office, World Food Programme (WFP), City Veterinarian’s Office, and other concerned government agencies.
Earlier, at least 60 displaced persons were deployed by the CSWDO to assist the government social workers in the various evacuation centers in this city and CSWDO field offices.
It was learned that the 60 workers are beneficiaries of the CSWDO’s regular program on emergency employment utilizing the bottom-up budgeting (BUB) approach.
In a related development, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has increased its budget to P4.9 million or additional P2.5 million for the implementation of DOLE-Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) in 2014 in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.
DOLE Provincial Director Lourdes Amores said that the DILP budget for 2014 is higher by P2.5 million compared to this year’s allocation of P2.4 million.
According to Amores, the budget increase is expected to benefit those who would like to avail of the DILP, either for group or individual livelihood projects.
Amores said the allocation for next year’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) will be increased to P8.5 million or additional P5 million.
She said this year’s allocation for SPES was P7.9 million.
The allocation increases for DILP and SPES form part of the regular budget of the agency for 2014 for this province, she added.
She also said that they are now accepting applications for the Government Internship Program (GIP) for January.
She said applicants can submit their application as soon as possible at the DOLE Provincial Office located along F. S. Pajares Avenue, San Jose District in Pagadian City.
Amores said those who will be hired through the GIP will receive a salary at least 75 percent of the minimum wage.

Source: Manila Bulletin - December 29, 2013