By Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – The Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Zamboanga del Sur Field Office in coordination
with the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) spearheaded the observance
of Labor Day last Friday, May 1, at the city’s covered court here.
To highlight the celebration, over P800
thousand DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP)
livelihood funds and more than P700 thousand worth of kabuhayan starter kits
were turned- over by DOLE-Zamboanga del Sur field Office officer-in-charge
Camilo Encilla Jr. to four people’s organization in the province and 63 parents of child labor workers in this
city.
In his welcome remarks, TIPC vice chairman
Levi Cabatcha said “it is in this celebration that we give honor to our workers
either white-collar job, professionals, skilled workers and all other types of
laborers to include the kasambahay (household help) workers.”
“We consider them the living heroes, for
they are the backbone of our society in the upliftment of our socio-economic
development and progress,” Cabatcha emphasized.
“In other words, they are our partners in
economic growth and stability in order to become globally competitive in terms
of manpower and production in the near future,” he added.
Meanwhile, TIPC chairman Mayor Romeo
Pulmones said in his message as read by Public Employment Service Officer
(PESO) Manager Virginia Almerol that “with the prevailing economic uncertainties,
his administration is finding ways and strategies with regards to providing
employment and livelihood for our constituents.”
“Employment and livelihood opportunities
for the city’s unemployed sector is one of the top priorities of this administration
since I assumed office in 2013,” Pulmones stressed.
“We want jobs wherein workers can grow as
persons and develop positive attitudes and habits in the context of this year’s
theme - Disenteng Trabaho at kabuhayan Alay Natin sa Bayan,” the mayor said.