CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Regional Office here on Monday formally inaugurated its provincial office in an effort to bring the agency closer to the people especially to the grassroots level.
Located at the third floor of Plaza Garcia along McArthur Highway in Barangay Dolores in this city, the inauguration of the field office was led by Governor Eddie Panlilio, Dole 3 Regional Director Ernesto Bihis, Public Employment Services Office managers from the province, business groups and non-government organizations.
Bihis said that the objective of opening a new field office was to exclusively cater to the needs and concerns of provincial workers and wage earners.
"This is part of our efforts to decentralize operations at the regional level. Ito ay para sa inyo. Sama-sama tayong maglingkod and satisfy the big expectations people have on us. I can assure you that our staff here is very committed and dedicated. Isumbong ninyo lamang sa amin kung mayroong pasaway ditto o tutulog-tulog dahil bawal ang tamad sa Dole," said Bihis.
Panlilio, for his part, welcomed the opening of the provincial office as it will bring the government closer to the people.
"Sa paraang ito ay mas marami tayong matutulungan. Tulad ng Provincial Government, maraming natutulungan ang Dole in terms of employment, livelihood and education. Cooperation between us is very important," Panlilio stressed, citing millions of pesos worth granted by the Capitol and Dole to Kapampangans for their livelihood and employment generation.
A highlight of the inauguration was the awarding of livelihood grants to three municipalities of the province.
Dole accorded the Municipality of Arayat P675,000; the Municipality of Lubao P150,000; and the Municipality of Sta. Rita P120,000. (Jovi T. De Leon)