AROUND 30 displaced workers from the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) are set to receive a free bike from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on its 87th founding anniversary.
According to Dole 7 Regional Director Salome Siaton, the FreeBis or Free Bisekleta project is a new introduction to the menu of services of the Dole Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) in response to the needs of the workers displaced due to the pandemic.
The Freebis worth P20,000 each comes with a complete set of accessories such as raincoats, helmet, and reflectorized vest.
To equip the beneficiaries with jigs and materials to use for their future delivery-related businesses, they will also be given android cellular phones with P2,400 worth of load each.
“We were supposed to release these bikes in October in a simultaneous national launching of the Free Bisikleta (FreeBis) project of the labor department. However, we encountered a few concerns since we lack suppliers that’s why we were not able to pursue it as scheduled. But finally, on our anniversary tomorrow, we will get to entrust these bikes to the rightful recipients,” Salome said.
To recall, the Dole conducted close monitoring on the workers’ retrenched at the MEPZ due to the pandemic.
One of the assistance the Dole extended was its employment facilitation program, together with PESO-Lapu-Lapu City and other social partners. Affected workers were referred to companies in need of an additional workforce, while others, who wanted to acquire new sets of skills were provided with pieces of training.
The beneficiaries, she said, had also been trained on pastry-making in coordination with the Public Employment Service Office (Peso) in Lapu-Lapu City and Tesda.
“The releasing of the FreeBis is only one of the many activities we will be undertaking tomorrow for our Anniversary Celebration. And we are so glad to inform everyone that the bikes are ready and in good condition. So apt for delivery activities,” said Director Siaton.
The Free Biskeleta Project is also inspired by the Dole’s national survey conducted in September which showed 78 percent of 1,119 respondents favored using bicycles in going to work despite the presence of other modes of transportation.
Apart from the releasing of the FreeBis, also highlighting the 87th DOLE Founding Anniversary would be the Virtual TNK-Job Fair; the releasing of financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad), and Dole Abot-Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) for OFWs; and the Releasing of Bond Paper under the “Bond Paper Mo, Module Ko” Initiative including the Hygiene Kits to some selected schools.
The Dole’s 87th Founding Anniversary is anchored on the theme, “Bayanihang Pagtugon sa Hamon ng Bagong Panahon.”/PR