CLARK FREEPORT -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon has facilitated the release of about P147.92 million monetary claims of 6,574 workers in the region in 2019.
The claims were released through the Dole's Single Entry Approach (SEnA), a mediation program that aims to provide a faster, fairer, and inexpensive resolution of labor issues between employees and employers.
Dole-Central Luzon Chief Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that in 2019, the regional office spent an average of two days in the settlement of various requests for assistance (RFAs), the shortest average process cycle time among regional offices.
"Of the 2,252 total requests filed here in Central Luzon, our Clark Satellite Office settled the highest amount of monetary claims of P65.4 million benefitting 1,518 workers, followed by Bulacan Field Office with P40.5 million claimed by 1,847 workers," Campita said in her report.
"Complaints are mostly on underpayment of wages, payment of separation pay and 13th-month pay, non-coverage under mandatory social benefits, and termination/dismissal," she added.
The Tarlac Field Office facilitated the settlement of P13.4 million for 874 workers; Zambales Field Office - P9.2 million for 718 workers; Pampanga Field Office - P5.9 million for 432 workers; Nueva Ecija Field Office - P6.8 million for 351 workers; Bataan Field Office - P6 million for 685 workers; and Aurora Field Office - P724,000 for 149 workers.
Dole-Central Luzon also accomplished a 99.2 percent settlement rate of labor disputes for the year 2019. This high settlement rate can be attributed to the settlement of 2,235 RFAs out of 2,252 RFAs filed. The remaining 14 were referred to the National Labor Relations Commission (13 RFAs) and other government agencies (one RFA) while three RFAs were dropped due to lack of interest of the requesting party.
Overall, the 2,252 filed RFAs were all disposed of translating to the regional office's 100 percent disposition rate.
Campita lauded and thanked the SEnA desk officers (SEADOs) for doing a great job and continuing to strive for improvement.
"From an average of 3.8 days to settle in 2018, our 2019 scorecard has improved to only taking 2 days for a request to be settled on average. This improvement in the process is a result of our SEADOs' hard work, and due credit is given to all of them," Campita said.
To file a request for assistance, visit the Dole-Central Luzon's official website at http://ro3.dole.gov.ph/ and click the "Contact Us" link for the hotline numbers, regional and field offices' numbers and addresses.