BICOL Labor

The Official Newsletter of DOLE-V (Bicol)

“Bata Arugain, Huwag Alilain” - Anti-Child Labor Program

“Well of course a manicurist would definitely receive a smaller bag than the mason because the former has smaller tools than the latter. Fitting all tools for every skills for every benefi-ciary is actually a difficult and tiring job, but we are DOLE and we are More than Jobs…” Vil-lamor explained with enthusiasm. Aside from the actual ‘bags’, some of the bene-ficiaries also received a small amount of capi-talization which they would use as starting capital. “Not all we’re given capital, only those who were really poor were given. Kailangang piliin talaga kase pera ng taong bayan ang pinag uusapan dito” Villamor added. The Livelihood Starter Kit is under DOLE’s 6-Priority Program Deliverables initialed by DOLE Hon. Secretary Marianito D. Roque on August last year and is set to be fully implemented before March this year. or “Trabaho Sa Bag” Locally, it has been branded and well-known as DOLE-Bicol’s “Trabaho Sa Bag” - end

Trabaho sa Bag… from page 7

Before DOLE’s Nego-Kart, Bolindot usually wrote down her earnings and sales at the back of a calamares paper plate. She also would usually pedal her food cart from downtown Legazpi up to the park which is about a 2-km distance. After attending DOLE’s orientation for the Nego-Kart Pro-ject, she now keeps a Columnar Record Book and with the new cart she will never have to pedal her old bike anymore.

“Nakakataba ng puso na makarinig ng ganyan at mas nakakataba ng puso pag nakakita ka ng uma-asensong tao dahil sa programa ng DOLE. Ang saya pag na-kakatulong ka.” DOLE-Bicol Asst. Reg. Di-rector Irma S. Valiente said teary-eyed.

DOLE-Bicol has already awarded 37 Nego-Karts starting December 8. Twenty (20) carts were given to LGU Legazpi, one (1) cart was given to an OFW repatriate, one (1) to a parent of a Child Laborer and fif-teen (15) were given to LGU Donsol, Sorso-gon.

“Sa mga tolad ko na gusto ng kariton ng DOLE, dapat magsepag kayo tapos ala-gaan ninyo ang cart dahel hindi lahat ay nabebebgyan nyan. Magpasalamat sa bi-yayang natanggap. Ipaketa naten na kaya nateng kumeta ng marangal kahet na maherap lang tayo. Hende porke’t maherap ka e hende kana a-asenso..sepag lang yan…” imparted Bolindot. Mellowing Down The objectives of “Apat Sa Singko” is to support the National Climate Change Pro-

Tears Rolled Down...from page 4 gram by means of Tree Planting; to show-case DOLE’s Nego-Cart Project thru actual release of carts; to Forge a stronger alli-ance with the Regional Tri-Media; to Faster coordination and information dissemina-tion of programs and projects; to create a ‘ground zero’ environment between the DOLE and the regional tri-media thereby avoiding media attacks; and to adhere to the government’s austerity measures pro-gram by making a 4-in-1 activity.

“We have to maximize our time and the people’s money. We have to remember that we are here as stewards of the taxes Filipinos are paying. Let us give the utmost service we can to the people.” RD Villamor ended. – fin. (rpescalante)

Tears Rolled-Down during DOLE-Bicol’s

“Apat Sa Singko” The “Green” Adventure Legazpi City- More than jobs in-deed. With hands covered with earth and mud DOLE-Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor slowly crouches while trying to re-gain his balance in the steep and grassy slope of Lignon Hill just to plant his 5th young tree. The sight

looks like a scene from the movie Spider-Man with Vil-lamor seemingly hanging from the hill’s side on an angle viewed from the top.

“O magdahan-dahan kayo at madulas! Ang taas pa naman ng huhulugan kung sakali hehehe…” Villamor cautioned.

Armed with a trowel, the battalion of DOLE-Bicol’s Employ-ees and members of the Regional Coordinating Council (DOLE-RCC) headed by RD Villamor and Asst. Reg. Director Irma S. Vali-

January 2010

Vol ume 8 , I ss ue 1

“Obrerong Bicolano, Oragun Ka”

B I C O L

A B O R L Department of Labor and Employment- Regional Office No. V (Bicol)

“Para-swerte” Rev. Fr. Ricardo C. Miranda, SVD OF Divine Word College of Legazpi bless the Nego-Karts before releasing it to the beneficiar-ies.

RD Villamor interviewed by ABS-CBN Bicol & other media during the turn-over of the Nego-Karts on wherein 24-beneficiaries from Legazpi City & Cam. Norte personally claimed their carts.

go to page 2— “tears rolled...”

DOLE-Bicol RD Alvin Villamor leads the pack during the tree planting. Amazingly he

From left: TSSD Chief Pepe Banda, Ms. Cecile Andalis, ARD Irma Valiente, Cam. Norte Chief Ruben Romanillos, Beneficiary, RD Alvin Villamor, NCMB Dir. Susan Quimpo & RTWPB Board Sec Rosendo Belo awards the certificate of Kart ownership.

What’s INSIDE? Double “V” sa DOLE………………..... 3

New Breed of Workers in Bicol ..…7

MAG-INGAT SA BOGUS NA INSPEKTOR

“Kai-ingat kayo. Hindi nanghihingi ng pera ang DOLE” Ito ang kabilin-bilinan ni DOLE Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor sa mga Bicolano sa boung rehiyon na hu-wag magpapaloko sa mga taong nagpapanggap na inspector ng DOLE at humihingi ng pera. -fin.

Page 2 Volume 8 , Issue 1

ente, climbed the almost 2-km inclined distance of the famous Mayon observa-tion site, the Lignon Hill, for its Tree Planting Activity on a wet-but sunny early morning of December 7, 2009. “Everybody was dripping with sweat and catching their breath. But nobody backed-out.” Villamor added.

Lignon (pronounced as lingyon) is con-sidered as a forest conservation hill overlooking the entire city and offering a fantastic view of the whole edifice of Mayon. It is also the City Environment and Natural Resources Office’s (CENRO) declared official site for tree planting activities. “Being one with nature is one of the best wasy to celebrate an anni-versary, it’s both cheap and healthy.” Villamor commented.

The CENRO gave some 150-young trees to DOLE-Bicol for the tree planting activ-ity.

“Apat Sa Singko” The tree planting activity is one of the 4-enrolled activities of DOLE-Bicol dubbed as ‘Apat Sa Singko’ for the DOLE’s 76th Foundation Anniversary Celebration. “Apat sa Singko” is a two (2) day affair which rolls-out four (4) major –but simple activities starting with a tree planting at Lignon Hill on December 7 and will con-tinue with a Thanksgiving Mass, Nego-Kart Blessing and actual turn-over of the Nego-Karts and will finish with a Regional Tri-Media Forum on the afternoon of De-cember 8 at DOLE-V office.

“What could be more rewarding than to see the less fortunate beam with happi-

ness because of a free Kariton given during our anniversary? We want a more meaningful and less expensive anniversary celebration and this is it.” Villamor added.

The activities crafted under ‘Apat Sa Singko’ is in adherence with President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo’s ‘Big 3 - thrust’ which is to have a massive-intensified communication of all pro-grams and projects; launching of the National Climate Change program and lastly the Government’s Austerity Measures Program. It is also in line with the DOLE Department Wide anni-versary theme “DOLE: Climate Smart @ 76”.

The Biggest Media Showcase “Apat sa Singko” was attended by RCC Heads and employees (TESDA, OWWA, POEA, NLRC, NCMB, PRC, and RTWPB), Nego-Kart beneficiaries and Accredited Co-Partners (ACPs), and members of the Regional Tri-Media.

“The afternoon activities of December 8 will serve as a media showcase and a venue for an open media discussion on issues and concerns regarding the DOLE Family. We want to show not just the local tri-media but the whole Bicol that DOLE-V is an open book” V i l l a m o r

Aside from the the Cart, DOLE-Bicol also gave seed capital to the beneficiaries. Mr. Pecos Intita of LGU Legazpi receives the car t ’ s do cu-ments.

go to pages 4 & 5...Tears Rolled Down

TEARS ROLLED DOWN… from page 1

BICOL Labor Page 7

distributed in Legazpi City- 20 kits for P200,000.00, Daraga- 21 kits for P200,000.00 and Ligao City- 24 kits for 200,000.00. The Province of Camarines Norte received a total of 20-kits for P200,000.00 while the Prov-ince of Sorsogon particularly the municipality of Donsol received a total of 17-kits for P170,000.00. The kits’ dis-tribution was personally su-pervised by Villamor to make sure that the kits are given to deserving beneficiaries. The starter kits distributed by DOLE-Bicol is actually a customized handbag full of hand tools needed for a par-ticular skill. Each bag differs

Bicol Region- A new breed of ‘workers’ is said to have sprouted in the region this new year after DOLE-Bicol released some 100-set of livelihood kits or “Trabaho sa Bag” amounting to about P1M on the last week of De-cember last year. The fore-sight on this possible ‘job’ booming is concluded after a massive job and livelihood monitoring of DOLE-Bicol on the first week of January this year. The “livelihood kits” were distributed throughout Bicol and is believed to create a whole new generation of skilled workers in the infor-mal sector. The informal sec-tor workers are those workers who are earning income by delivering personal services to another thru the use of their skills but are not ‘formally employed’. “The livelihood kits is de-signed to help these (informal) workers better their craft by giving them the necessary equipment they need. With the kits, they can venture into a self-sustaining endeavor.” DOLE-Bicol Re-gional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor said. For the Province of Albay the beneficiaries totaled to 65

from another depending on the skills of the worker. A manicurist bag would have a complete set of nail polish, nail file and all that tools needed by a manicurist while a masonry bag would have every little tool a ma-son needs. The ‘kits’ are specifically tailored to the following skills: welding, dressmaking, plumbing electrical servicing, refrigeration & air-conditioning, massage ther-apy, masonry & carpentry, furniture making, cosmetol-ogy, computer repair, auto mechanic, and cell phone repair.

Trabaho Sa Bag, Generates New Breed of Workers in Bicol

The land of Mayon hoping for a better tomorrow today thru DOLE-Bicol Livelihood Starter Kit locally known here as

“Trabaho Sa Bag” New individual workers will be enjoying this scene with money in their pockets.

Turn to page 8… Trabaho sa Bag

Page 6 Volume 8 , Issue 1

exciting, more progressive and more focused DOLE-Bicol” Josie Bustamante, Budget Offi-cer III said giggling. Double V’s first escapade to-gether, the “Apat Sa Singko” (see related story), is seen to be a ‘good foresight’ of them working together. Their courage to explore the deep tunnel of Lignon during the tree planting activity is a major feat of an RD and ARD bonding. “We will try to make par, or better, to surpass what was achieved here in Bicol by the past leaderships. We will take the good attributes of the great leaders that has come and do away with the bad things. May God Bless us all.” Villamor commented. Knowing the Vs Villamor was previ-ously assigned in DOLE-V as Asst. Reg. Director and has been coined by the local tri-media as the Cham-pion of Labor when he person-ally supervised and facilitated the payment of wages of some 120-workers in a celebrated labor case here sometime in

2005. This feat has marked into the hearts and minds of Bicolanos which made them (Bciolanos) believed that DOLE-V is indeed pro-labor. He came from NCMB and being a lawyer he is a master of Labor Laws– his primary discipline. Now he is back in Bicol as new RD—the new Oragun of DOLE-V.

Meanwhile, Valiente is formerly with the Bureau of Women and Young Workers (BWYW) as Division Chief handling special-ized programs for women and youth. She has seen action as

DOUBLE V SA DOLE… from page 3

“Double V’s Tandem is like Puto at Dinuguan or

Suman at Latik”

OIC-Asst. Reg. Director here in 2006 with which she brought her expertise in repor-torial & statistical analysis, administrative management and livelihood development. A versatile boss, a very hard worker who stays in the office up to 9pm and an IPOD lover. Her primary discipline—livelihood. Their difference in discipline is perhaps the best tool they have in running the region. “They will be a balancing fac-tor of each other. Yung possi-bleng kahinaan ng isa ay ang lakas ng isa. We welcome them with open arms & legs!” DOLE V employees said cheering. -fin

Photo courtesy of Tonet & Joy

Double V strengthens their bond with DOLE-V personnel

BICOL Labor Page 3

Despite aching knees and plastered necks, together they joined hands in con-quering the what could be longest, hardest, slippery and deepest tunnel in Legazpi City—the Lignong Hill tunnel. “Ang hirap talaga, yuyuko ka para makalabas e ang sakit pa naman ng likod ko...pero kailan-gang makipagsabayan.” DOLE-Bicol Asst. Reg. Dir. Irma S. Valiente said. The tunnel is actually a sym-bolic icon of the projected team-work between OIC-Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Vil-lamor and Asst. Reg. Dir. Irma

S. Valiente for DOLE-Bicol. The Villamor-Valiente tandem now aliased by the ri-media as “The Double V” is said to bring DOLE-Bicol into greater heights. Like Puto at Dinuguan DOLE-Bicol personnel sees the tandem as somewhat ‘perfect’ like puto at dinuguan with the two having different disciplines. Villamor is an expert in Labor Relations & Valiente is an ex-pert in Livelihood. “Actually tamang-tama sila, ika nga eh parang puto at dinuguan masarap pagsabaying kainin. I believe that we will have an

The Villamor-Valiente tandem takes a shot with “Wakang” at the entrance of the Lignon Hil tunnel. Despite the obstacles , together they explored the long, hard and slippery tunnel to prove their dedication in taking DOLE-V into the next level...

Double “V” sa DOLE is Like Puto at Dinuguan

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief: ATTY. ALVIN M. VILLAMOR Regional Director

Associate Editors: DIR. IRMA S. VALIENTE Assistant Regional Director NELIA ABION-OLIVERA IMSD Chief Managing Editor/: RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE Writer Information Officer III Circulation: ANNE VERSARIO COLINA Records Officer III Lay-out & Graphics: rpescalante

Contact Info: Tel. #: 480-5830 480-5831 Fax #: 820-4806 820-6876 Email: dolero5@yahoo.com

We’re on the WEB!

www.dole.gov.ph

DOLE BICOL is published quar-terly. For free subscription cut this portion & mail to: DOLE-RO V Dona Aurora St. Old, Albay, Le-gazpi City, 4500

MAKINIG KAYO

“Trabaho Asin Negosyo” Tuesday 7:30—8:30am

DWAS 1125

“Aksyon DOLE sa Veritas” Wednesday 11:00 -12:00am

Radyo Veritas 1008

“DOLE on Air” Friday 3:00—4:00 pm

DZRC AM

go to page 6… “Double V sa DOLE”

explained. About forty five (45) members from 23 local tri-media outfits came to witness DOLE-Bicol’s Foundation Anniversary. While other government agencies have trouble inviting media-men for their Press Conference, DOLE-Bicol literally and figura-t i v e l y ‘ f e l l s h o r t of seats’ in accommodating the media men. “I was aghast with the outstanding number of the media. What a wonder-ful-surprising welcome for me…” Villamor exclaimed.

DOLE-Bicol Close to Hearts of Media Jess Magayanes, News Director and PM of DZRC-AM said that DOLE-Bicol is really close to the hearts not just to the media men but Bicolanos as well. He said that they (media men) will come anytime DOLE-Bicol calls because they be-lieved in the programs and projects of the office.

“Lalo na’t si Atty. Villamor ang director ngayon. Ang Cham-pion ng Labor! Saludo talaga kame sayo sir dahil ikaw lang ang nakapag pa-bayad sa -----… Hindi naming makakalimu-tan yun…” Magayanes added.

“Trabaho lang yun,” Villamor remarked.

ABS-CBN’s new comer reporter “Thea” even requested for a one-on-one exclusive interview with Villamor to get to know him personally and to know DOLE-Bicol’s programs thrust comes 2010. “Totoo nga, sa tono pa lang ni director ta-lagang maka masa na. Magiging regular ang pagbisita ko dito (sa DOLE).” She added.

The media outfits that shared in the anniversary celebration are as follows: For TV - ABS-CBN TV 4 Bicol, PBN-TV 6, RPN-

Page 4

“Salamat DOLE, Maraming maraming salamat…” Bolindot, a recipient of he cart said sobbing.

Volume 8 , Issue 1

To combat the stress and to catch breath, DOLE employees posed for a pictorial. The inclined walk is about 30-min from the parking area. “Magandang Ehersisyo sa tumatabang mga taga DOLE.”

Ober Da Bakod. After the 30-min walk, the DOLE-RCC headed by RD Alvin M. Villamor realized that they came too early. The gate of the conservation park is still closed . Everyone had to hop, hop & hop just to cross over.

A breather. Upon reaching the top of Lignon hill the group took a minute off to regain strength to plant tree. A picturesque back-ground view is the perfect way to relax….

“Beh may armas kame!” From left: ARD Irma, Gina, IMSD Chief Nelia, Tonet, Josie, Monet and Boots shows off their trowel.

Albay Chief Art Corbe (in red) digs his hole for his tree. At back is Abet Dacallos aka ‘Abdul’.

Tears Rolled Down...from page 2 Bicol, and DCTV- Cable. For radio DZGB, DZRC, DWRL, DWZR, Radyo Veritas, DZKI-Iriga, Magic FM Tabaco, DWAS, Bombo Radyo, DZGN Sorso-gon, Radyo ng Bayan, PIA and DZMB Daet. For print (National) Phil. Star, Inquirer, AFP, Bulletin & PNA,

( loca l ) Mayon T imes,

Birador, Dyaryo Bikol, Bicol Mail & Bicol Chronicle.

Salamat DOLE, Maraming, Maraming Salamat! Her tears are uncontrollable. She wept like a baby superbly surprised by a new toy. She is “Jenilyn” popularly known as “Bolindot”, a 25-year old push-cart vendor of Calamares and Kalabasa Ukoy at Penaranda (pronounced as pen-yaranda) Park, Old Albay, Legazpi City.

“Huhuhu ang saya ko po talaga ser. As in su-per…Napakalakeng tolong po neto sameng mag-anak. Aalagaan ko po eto. Salamat po Sir Alben sana lahat ng derektor tolad mo... ” she said while wiping her cheeks from side-to-side.

Bolindot is a recipient of DOLE-Bicol’s Ne-gosyo Sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) Program. She is one of the 20-lucky beneficiaries awarded from Legazpi City. She has waited anxiously for this event- for her pre-cious kariton to be ‘actually’ awarded to her. For Bolindot the Kariton ng DOLE is everything.

“Ang benubuhay ko po samen ay galeng po sa kariton kong loma. Dahel po deto sa kart ng DOLE mas dadame po ang keta namen tapos maganda pa po yun kart.Da bes po talaga eto.” Bolindot blurted.

Aside from the food cart, she also received P1,500.00 as initial capital. DOLE-Bicol also oriented her on the basics of financial management and simple bookkeeping.

“Salamat DOLE, Maraming maraming salamat…” Bolindot, a recipient of he cart said sobbing.

BICOL Labor Page 5

“Shoo...shooo” RTWPB messenger, with his buddies, fights off a fly trying to land in his nose. They borrowed the trowel from DOLE. Pls. give it back afterwards ok…. “shoo, shooo, shoooooooo fly a-lis dyan!”

“Kah, Kah, Kah” The group posing at the wel-come sign beside the ZIP LINE adven-ture right after the tree plant-ing.

ARD Irma, Mam Nel Olivera & Liza Parpan flash their sweetest smile amidst the sun. Nelia said she bought her thousand worth ‘Dickies’ shades for this event alone.

RD Alvin (with baseball cap) raises his ‘tree’ to show every-one how it’s done. On right Abdul and Esme argues as to whose tree will grow bigger his or hers… Turn to page 8...Tears Rolled Down