THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said candidates are prohibited to visit or participate in any of its programs related to the 123 celebration of Labor Day celebration.
DOLE-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Albert Gutib said on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, that the prohibition is in line with the guidelines issued by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma in the implementation of programs of agency during the election period.
"All DOLE-related activities should be conducted in a designated area that has no interference from any political aspirants, no paraphernalia, especially posters, banners and tarpaulins that promote candidates," Gutib said in a press conference.
"In the observance of non-partisanship principle, all request of the political candidates to participate in the DOLE-related activities should not be accommodated," Gutib added.
DOLE-Zamboanga Peninsula is set to distribute over P42 million worth of assistance to 9,863 beneficiaries through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantage (Tupad) Workers as part of the Labor Day celebration in the region.
Livelihood starter kits worth P13.4 million will be distributed to 578 beneficiaries in Zamboanga Peninsula.
DOLE-Zamboanga Peninsula will formally turn over a livelihood cheque to its co-partner Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance Inc. (Zabida), in support of DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.
"The assistance, amounting to P1.7 million, will benefit 34 individual beneficiaries, each with their own livelihood project, aimed at promoting sustainable income and community empowerment," Gutib said.
Gutib said that 9,549 vacancies are up for grab during the Labor Day jobs fair in the region. It will be participated by 68 local employers and 19 overseas employers.
Of the total, 6,437 job vacancies are for overseas employment and the remaining 3,112 for local employment.
The other activities include the one-stop-shop services, skills demonstration and free services, and Talentadong Obrero Year VII and Raffle Bonanza.
On April 28, DOLE-Zamboanga Peninsula and concerned stakeholders will celebrate World Day for Safety and Health Work.
The 123rd Labor Day Celebration is anchored on the theme "Manggagawang Pilipino, Kaagapay sa Pag-Unlad, Sandigan ng mas Matatag na Bagong Pilipinas." (SunStar Zamboanga)