The Department of Labor & Employment- Central Visayas has laid out a comprehensive plan for the immediate and long-term recovery of residents in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, affected by the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.
Initially, 1,450 farmers and livestock owners have been hired for emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers program, DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office Director Vivenco Lagahid said Tuesday.
“These beneficiaries have already been profiled and have started working since late last week doing menial tasks like street cleaning, especially in the communities affected by the volcanic eruption,” he said.
They will each receive P4,680 for 10 days’ worth of community work or a daily wage of P468, he added.
The villages of Pula, Masulog, Linothangan, Malaiba, and Lumapao in Canlaon City were tapped as priority areas for the recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, the long-term recovery assistance from DOLE for the five villages is the Integrated Livelihood & Emergency Employment Program, tapping associations as primary beneficiaries.
Lagahid said they are currently identifying and validating the status of associations which were previous DOLE beneficiaries of livelihood grants.
In a separate statement, DOLE-7 Director Lilia Estillore said Canlaon City beneficiaries will be provided with protective equipment, and a one-year group accident insurance coverage through the Government Service Insurance System.
Referrals will also be made to the Technical Education & Skills Development Authority for livelihood training.
Lagahid also met with Canlaon Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas recently to discuss possible areas of collaboration, such as job placements for fresh graduates. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
