By Alma L. Tingcang
PAGADIAN CITY, February 28 (PIA) - - - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in cooperation with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) spearheaded a Conciliation and Mediation Training for PESO Managers and Guidance Counselors yesterday, Feb 27, 8 am to 5 pm at the DOLE Provincial Office, Alano Street, this city.
DOLE Assistant Regional Director Virginia L. Bonbon welcomed the 32 participants and expressed her grateful appreciation to their warm response and eagerness to attend the training.
NCMB Director Marjuc A. Jumrani said, “the promotion of industrial peace is our main thrust so we’ve come up with this training because we would like to expand our program to include our stakeholders. So that if you have problems in your respective organizations, you do not need to go to DOLE.”
“This is the reason why we have invited our PESO managers and guidance counselors. You are our partners in the promotion of industrial peace because we cannot do it alone. The DOLE and you will be partners in promoting industrial peace in the country. Industrial peace is very important so we can attract more investors. Foreign businessmen will not invest in our country if our labor relations are not stable,” Director Jumrani explained.
The NCMB is an attached agency of DOLE, created by virtue of EO no, 126 signed in January, 1987 to help the government address the labor strikes in the country which numbered about 600 during that time. ‘‘Now we have only two strikes, the one in the National Steel in Pampanga and the Philippine Airlines,” Jumrani said.
“DOLE continues to find ways to address the problem. In conciliation-mediation, we do not pass judgment, we only facilitate. Meaning, if there is a problem, we settle it through the parties. Ang tawag diyan pag may meeting kami, we don’t call that hearing, yung process we call that healing process. We are healers. You should always remember that as a conciliator, you are there to heal. We are advocates of peace,” Jumrani concluded.
On the other hand, Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano said, “DOLE together with NCMB hosted this conciliation and mediation training specially designed for PESO managers and guidance counselors because we believe that this process would be able to advance the knowledge and skills in practicing conciliation and mediation which is now the mode of settling disputes.”
“It is an alternative mode, but also the better mode since through conciliation-mediation, there is no winner or loser. Both parties are winners simply because if the dispute is settled thru mediation, we just facilitate the discussion and it is up to the parties to resolve whatever conflict there is. We are continuously promoting industrial peace and we are very glad to inform you that here in Region 9, this is still a strike – free region. If there are no strikes recorded, it is an indication that we have a very successful advocacy program on conciliation-mediation, because we are able to resolve the disputes and settle them at ground level. It is a signal that we are doing our job, and that is to promote industrial peace in the country,” RD Cano said.
“We will become investor-friendly and we are glad that our intermediaries, the PESO managers and the Guidance Counselors Network are given this opportunity so that when you go home to your respective areas, you will become agents of change in the field of conciliation-mediation.” RD Cano concluded by saying, “Knowing is not enough, we must apply… and willing is not enough, we must do.”
Participants shared their impressions by saying that learning is a continuous process and training is one way of broadening their horizon. It also provided a deeper understanding that Alternative Dispute Resolution is a healing process which creates an atmosphere of unity, solidarity and teamwork between the employer and employee in attaining the company’s goals and objectives. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)