TALKS have started between the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 and the City of Naga, Cebu for a possible provision of emergency employment for workers affected by the landslide that hit the city last week.
Dole Cebu Provincial Field Office head Maria Grace V. Diaz, in a statement, said that Dole already started discussing options with the City’s Public Employment Service Office (Peso) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) for the assistance under Dole’s Emergency Employment Program or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad).
“We are now coordinating with the Peso and the CSWDO in the City for the profiling of affected workers in the six barangays declared under the state of calamity,” said Diaz.
The profiling, she said, is expected to cover individuals and families residing in Barangays Tina-an, Naalad, Mainit, Pangdan, Cabungahan and Inoburan.
Tina-an and Naalad, the barangays hardest hit by the landslide, registered dozens of homes buried in the rubble, killing, as of this writing, more than 60 individuals while dozens still remained missing. Dole 7 Director Johnson Cañete said the barangays will be the priority for the assistance.
This, as cash donations for the landslide victims in the City of Naga have increased to P7.3 million after two more local government units gave aid to the city yesterday.
At 10 a.m. yesterday, the Lapu-Lapu City Government, led by Mayor Paz Radaza and Vice Mayor Marcial Ycong, visited the City of Naga to turn over P2 million in cash donations.
The financial assistance from Lapu-Lapu City is sourced from the City’s quick response fund, Radaza said.
Officials from Naga’s next door neighbor, Minglanilla, also turned over a check for P500,000.
Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña and the municipal council turned over the donation to City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong yesterday.
The Cebu City Government will also give P1 million to Naga. Assistant City Administrator Annabeth Cuizon said they will recommend this amount to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
“That is still subject to the approval of the mayor because as of now, he is still out of the country. But for sure, Cebu City will give,” she said.
Cuizon said they will ask the City of Naga to inform Cebu City the specific project the money will be spent on.
In Cebu Province, Gov. Hilario Davide III wants the Provincial Board to allow him to donate a part of the Balili property to landslide victims in Barangay Tina-an.
Davide also asked officials of Apo Land and Quarry Corp. to help develop the Balili lot into a relocation site. (JKV, RVC, AZLG, PR)