Region 1 workers get P5 or P8 wage hike

DOLE 1 begins institutionalization of SRS in LGUs

The MOA signing, which

was accompanied with the

awarding of necessary

equipment, SRS materials

and electronic system, has

bolstered the capacity of

the LGU to implement the

SRS, which is a continuing

nationwide manpower

skills registration for job-

seekers.

Jalbuena said the SRS is

envisioned to enhance the

databank of manpower

supply with their corre-

sponding skills and qualifi-

cations for ready access of

employment service cli-

ents. “The SRS aims to strengthen the cur-

rent system of Register of labor demand from

employers that shall be available to both

jobseekers and employers through the exist-

ing Phil-jobnet,” he explained.

“This social pact between the DOLE and the

City government of San Fernando foreruns

broader support from local partners in our

conscious efforts to address the perennial

labor mismatch problem, which is foremost

in President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 22-

point labor platform and policy reforms,”

Jalbuena said.

The City Government has committed to

mobilize barangay officials and personnel

to assist in the implementation of SRS

activities such as purposive data gathering,

encoding of manpower information, storage

and updating of register and preparation of

reports.

Jalbuena said the SRS will ensure the

availability of relevant labor market infor-

mation needed to effectively facilitate the

employment of those unemployed and as-

sist business establishments in sourcing

qualified manpower to fill their existing

vacancies.

He said the DOLE 1 is set to institutional-

ize the SRS in other LGUs, adding that a

MOA signing with the Municipality of

Rosales, Pangasinan will be held at the SM

Rosales during the 77th DOLE Anniversary

celebration on December 8. – asv

Minimum wage workers in the private

sector in the Region will receive an in-

crease of P5.00 or P8.00 in their daily basic

wage after the Regional Tripartite Wages

and Productivity Board-I approved Wage

Order No. RB1-14.

Henry John S. Jalbuena, Chairman of the

Board and Regional Director of the Depart-

ment of Labor and Employment, stated

that the increase will cover all workers

and employees in the private sector receiv-

ing the minimum wage in the region re-

gardless of their position, designation or

status of employment and irrespective of

the method their wages are paid.

Jalbuena said that the new wage order

was issued to restore the lost purchasing

power of the peso, enabling the workers to

cope with the rising costs of living. Aside

from the P5 or P8 increase in the daily

basic wage, the Board also integrated into

the basic wage the existing Cost Of Living

Allowance (COLA) granted under Wage

Order No. RB1-13.

“In deciding the amount of wage adjust-

ments, the Board considered also the eco-

nomic performance or contribution of the

various industry sectors in the economic

development of the region in order not to

impair their viability particularly the mi-

cro and small establishments and those

that were adversely affected by natural

calamities and the effect of the continuing

global financial crisis,” Jalbuena ex-

plained.

After careful deliberations, the Board de-

cided that a 5-peso adjustment will be eco-

nomically feasible among micro establish-

ments with low growth rate; while busi-

nesses with moderate to fast growth rate

can effect an additional P8 in their work-

ers’ daily basic wage.

Not covered by the new wage order are

household or domestic helpers; persons

employed in the personal service of an-

other, including family drivers; and work-

ers and employees of registered Barangay

Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) with

Certificates of Authority pursuant to Re-

public Act 9178.

Exempted from the coverage of the new

wage order are distressed establishments

and establishments adversely affected by

natural calamities upon approval by the

Board of their application for exemption.

The new Wage Order will take effect on

January 20, 2011 following its complete

publication in a newspaper of general cir-

culation in the region.

Jalbuena said stakeholders will be ori-

ented on the salient provisions of the new

wage order upon the approval of its Imple-

menting Rules.

C ity of San Fernando, La Union – The

Department of Labor and Employment-

Regional Office 1 has begun in this region’s

capital the institutionalization of the Skills

Registry System (SRS) in local government

units after the signing of the Memorandum

of Agreement between Director Henry John

S. Jalbuena and Mayor Pablo C. Ortega.

As the year comes to a close, DOLE 1

wishes to share with its clients and the

general public its major successes picked

among its mass of accomplishments.

Our accomplishments are categorized

according to the present administration’s

five (5) thrusts, namely, 1) Good Govern-

ance and Transformational Leadership; 2)

Creating Conditions Conducive to Eco-

nomic Growth and Competitiveness; 3)

Social Programs that Build Capacity and

Create Opportunity; and 4) Foreign Policy

that Promotes Investments and Workers’

Welfare.

To pursue good governance and transfor-

mational leadership, seven (7) agency-

level Efficiency and Integrity Boards were

created in support to the administration's goal for transparency and anti-

corruption practices in the bureaucracy.

Aside from the installation of EIBs, DOLE 1 and our Field Offices have set

up their respective feedback mechanisms using feedback forms to facilitate

communication with clients and the general public. The feedback forms are

collated and processed into reports every 15 days for appropriate action and

submission to the Anti-Red Tape Act secretariat at the DOLE Central Of-

fice in Manila.

Our Citizen’s Charter, complete with the process flows of our programs and

services, is conspicuously displayed at our office lobby to guide clients in

availing these.

To give life to the President’s second thrust the DOLE 1 has ensured the

protection of workers’ rights, while maintaining industrial peace within the

context of social justice through its enforcement program.

Through our Project Labor Enforcement Action Program, we have achieved

87% compliance rate among inspected establishments, in contrast with the

70% target.

Single Entry Approach (SENA) Desks are now in place in all DOLE 1 of-

fices and our attached agencies to encourage the amicable settlement of all

covered labor cases. In our pilot tests on the SENA, we have gathered a

positive response from clients with 8 cases successfully mediated in the first

conference. This means both labor and management can settle their differ-

ences away from the rigors of adversarial case hearings.

As to the third thrust, as a result of strengthened collaboration with other

stakeholders to bring about social programs that build capacity and create

opportunities, employment is up by 39,953. To enhance the employability

of jobseekers or workers and create an environment for quality employ-

ment, the DOLE 1, in cooperation with other entities, has intensified the

exchange of labor market information and strongly promotes career coach-

ing and employability enhancement seminars among graduating tertiary

and secondary students to guide them in making effective career choices.

To gain broader local support to all our efforts addressing the labor mis-

match problem, we are advocating to our Local Chief Executives the institu-

tionalization of the Skills Registry System, Public Employment Services

Office and the results of Project Jobs Fit.

The workers in the informal sector continue to be among the priority target

beneficiaries of DOLE 1’s integrated livelihood program, as more than 4,500

were provided with economic opportunities which not only give them a

source of income, but taught them the value of hard work and how to prop-

erly manage finances. Closely related to this, over 700 WIE have been

enrolled in various government social protection schemes such as SSS and

Philhealth.

Despite efforts to create local employment, many Filipino workers still opt

to find overseas employment, and in order to afford them greater protection,

one-stop-shop services have been set up in the DOLE Regional Office and in

its field offices in Eastern and Central Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte.

Mobile Processing of Overseas Employment Certificates for Balikmangga-

gawa or returning OFWs are also available in DOLE Field Offices in Cen-

tral and Eastern Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte on certain dates. Seminars

and orientations on values formation, anti-illegal recruitment, stress man-

agement and entrepreneurial opportunities are continuously being given to

OFWs to promote their welfare.

In the following years, the DOLE 1, with the support of its partners, is

poised to further intensify the implementation of its programs to fulfill the

goals laid down in the present administration’s labor reform agenda.

Editorial Board Dir. Henry John S. Jalbuena

Editorial Technical Consultant

Arly Sta. Ana-Valdez

Editor-In-Chief

Contributors:

Jeridee C. Orate

Agnes B. Aguinaldo

Fredderick L. Gaerlan

Rommel Ioannis E. Mendoza

Violeta J. Buenaventura

Mary Aurea de Jesus

Leonavella S. Dadiz

Layout and Design:

Jennelyn S. Malong

1 DOLE Gazette is the official monthly publication of the Depart-

ment of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1, with address at

the Arnel Bldg., Mabini St., Catbangen, City of San Fernando, La

Union. Contact Details: (072)7002520; 7004371; 2421753; fax:

(072)6078114;email add: dole_ro1@yahoo.com; web-

site:ro1.dole.gov.ph

The title is a play of the Department’s name and the numeral

number 1.

The numeral number 1 signifies Region 1 and oneness of the

DOLE Regional Office 1 and its attached agencies in program

implementation.

Normally, the acronym DOLE 1 is used. However, as this newslet-

ter debuts at the dawn of a new administration’s strengthened

coherent policy and program complementation under a 22-point

labor platform, we deem it more emphatic to affix the number 1

before DOLE to represent both purposes.

THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S CORNER THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S CORNER THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S CORNER

PAG E 2 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

What’s Inside

4,590 benefit from DOLE 1 livelihood

EventsEvents 4,54,5

RCC UpdatesRCC Updates 66

Strengthened social partnership ups employment in region 1Strengthened social partnership ups employment in region 1

DOLE 1 starts campaign for voluntary code of good practices 8

The Regional Director’s Corner The Regional Director’s Corner 2

About the TitleAbout the TitleAbout the Title

Region 1 workers get P5 or P8 wage hikeRegion 1 workers get P5 or P8 wage hike

DOLE 1 begins institutionalization of SRS in LGUs

About the TitleAbout the Title

Balungao women’s group receives livelihood assistance from DOLE 1 3Balungao women’s group receives livelihood assistance from DOLE 1 3

DOLE 1 reports hiredDOLE 1 reports hired--onon--thethe--spotspot 77

Another LGU supports the SRSAnother LGU supports the SRS

Editorial Board

January 2011 Calendar of Activities

Using capacity building interventions under its Integrated

Livelihood Program, the Department of Labor and Employ-

ment-Regional Office 1 was able to provide 4,590 persons

opportunities for economic advancement for this year.

The livelihood assistance includes start-up capital in the

form of tools, jigs, raw materials; trainings; social protection

schemes, and social marketing.

“From idlers who used to just rely on government dole-outs,

the beneficiaries learned the value of hard work, as they are

taught how to properly manage their livelihood. They have

to nurture it, otherwise, they will lose a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to earn,” DOLE 1 Director Henry John S. Jal-

buena said.

He said that as enunciated in President Benigno S. Aquino

III’s Social Contract, the government aims a transition from

government anti-poverty programs that instill a dole-out

mentality to well-considered programs that build capacity

and create opportunities among the poor and the marginal-

ized in the country.

Some of the livelihood projects that have been awarded are

beekeeping, loomweaving, food processing, vermiculture and

seedling production, internet café, canteen and general mer-

chandise, acquisition of farm implements such as tractors,

water pump, food carts, and others.

“Our livelihood program comprises of three (3) phases,

namely, 1) formation, 2) restoration, and 3) income augmen-

tation. We have different interventions that cater to the

diversified needs of our livelihood clients,” Jalbuena ex-

plained.

He added that those who benefited from the livelihood pro-

jects are the ultra poor, unemployed adults, women, farm-

ers, fishermen, ambulant vendors, parents of child laborers,

former OFWs, TESDA graduates, Indigenous Peoples, union

members, typhoon victims, among others.

The beneficiaries are distributed among the four (4) prov-

inces of the region, as follows: Ilocos Sur – Tagudin, Candon

City, Sugpon, Lidlidda, Alilem, San Vicente, Sta. Cruz and

Quirino; Ilocos Norte – Batac City, Burgos, Bacarra, San

Nicolas, Laoag City and Dingras; La Union – City of San

Fernando, Sudipen, Luna, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Tubao,

Balaoan, Burgos and Bauang; Pangasinan – Natividad,

Balungao, Rosales, Umingan, San Nicolas, Bolinao, Sta.

Maria, Sta. Barbara, Sual, Urdaneta City, Malasiqui,

Calasiao, Bani and San Fabian. – . (Question or inquiry

about this press release? Please contact the DOLE-Regional

Office 1 at telephone numbers: (072)7002520/6078114; or

email us at:dole_ro1@yahoo.com; or visit us at:

ro1.dole.gov.ph) – asv

PAG E 3 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

The Maresma comprises four clustered barangays which are

considered Agrarian Reform Communities known to be

within the poverty threshold because of low agricultural

yield caused by the hilly landscape of the areas.

“The Maresma has set its right foot forward when it chose to

cultivate high value crop such as squash to improve their

plight,”

Jalbuena said, adding that the value of the crop is increased

by processing it into canton noodles.

Squash growers complain of low farm gate price, especially

when there is overabundance of supply.

Jalbuena said that strong private and government coopera-

tion on the project will help boost it to provide more employ-

ment to the localities.

Rosales, Pangasinan – The Maresma Women’s Credit Coop-

erative of Barangay San Andres in this municipality re-

cently received equipment, tools and raw materials from the

Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 to

enhance the association’s squash canton noodles production.

“The equipment which were awarded to the Maresma is just

part of the P450,000 livelihood assistance to help upgrade

and increase its production, to ultimately uplift the socio-

economic condition of its more than 200 members,” Jalbuena

said, explaining that other interventions have already been

provided to the association in the form of skills training on

squash canton noodles processing; leadership and values

formation seminar; trainings on financial management, oc-

cupational health and safety and good manufacturing prac-

tices.

Jalbuena said that the DOLE 1 has coordinated with the

Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science

and Technology and the local government of Balungao to

continuously improve product quality, as they will work to-

gether to strengthen marketing strategies.

“President Benigno S. Aquino III has clearly outlined his

administration’s thrust to build the capacities of the poor

and marginalized through well-considered programs. We

are making good with this mandate through the implemen-

tation of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program,” Jal-

buena said.

Balungao women’s group receives livelihood assistance from DOLE 1

4,590 benefit from DOLE 1 livelihood

PAG E 4 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

EVENTS DOLE 1 CHRISTMAS PRO GRAM

PAG E 5 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

YEAREND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

EVENTS

Service Quality and ISTIV Trainings: key to

productivity—RTWPB I

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – I

(RTWPB-I) has just completed the provision of Service

Quality-Error-Free Service Seminars and ISTIV Produc-

tivity Trainings as among its commitments along Presi-

dent Benigno S. Aquino III’s Professional Regulations

Services, Technical-Vocational Education, Skills Compe-

tency and Productivity Agenda.

For July to November, Service Quality - Error Free Ser-

vice trainings were given to 44 establishments and 514

managers, supervisors and workers in the hotel and res-

taurant industry to improve their capability , knowledge,

and skills in delivering an error-free service to their cli-

ents and customers.

“The intervention is a service quality training program

considered as a productivity tool and capacity enhancing

strategy to help the firms concerned to manage their cost

and enable them to shift cost-efficiency strategies as well

as to help these firms upgrade their capacities through

continuous skills development and productivity improve-

ment,” DOLE 1 Director and RTWPB 1 Chair Henry John

S. Jalbuena said.

Jalbuena said that the Board has also exceeded its target

by 150 percent in the implementation of the ISTIV-

Bayanihan Program by conducting 13 ISTIV-Bayanihan

trainings, benefitting 25 potential entrepreneurs/

organizations in the informal sector. The trainings were

conducted in coordination with the various field offices of

the Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Of-

fice No. 1 and the Department of Science and Technology -

Regional Office No. 1.

According to Jalbuena the ISTIV-Bayanihan is a values–

based strategy for improving the productivity of the hu-

man resource through the application of quality tools and

techniques. It is an acronym that stands for five ideal

attributes of a productive worker, namely, I for Industri-

ous; S for Systematic; T for Time-conscious; I for Innova-

tive and V for strong Value for work.

On the Agenda Reform on Minimum Wage Setting, the

Board has also scheduled the conduct of public hearings

on the wage issue to gather the positions, comments, sug-

gestions, and recommendations of all affected parties. The

public hearings will be held at the Multi-Purpose Hall,

Lyceum Northwestern University, Dagupan City on De-

cember 9, 2010 for stakeholders in the provinces of La

Union and Pangasinan, and December 10, 2010 at the

Texicano Hotel, Laoag City for stakeholders in the prov-

inces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

After the conduct of public hearings and sectoral consulta-

tion, if deemed necessary, the Board will deliberate and

issue its decision soonest on the wage issue.

The Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Of-

fice 1 has recorded a 39,953 increase in the number of per-

sons locally employed in the region for the past 11 months.

DOLE 1 Director Henry John S. Jalbuena said these em-

ployed persons were either placed through the Public Em-

ployment Services Office, contractors/subcontractors,

emergency employment, or the Special Program for the

Employment of Students.

“The increase results from better coordination among the

DOLE and its social partners like the PESOs, other gov-

ernment agencies, private sector, the academe, local gov-

ernment units, and many others, in pursuit of providing

quality local employment to our workers, or enhancing the

employability of jobseekers,” Jalbuena said.

Jalbuena said that in line with President Benigno S.

Aquino’s top labor policy of investing in our greatest re-

source-the human resource-several initiatives have been

undertaken by the DOLE 1 and its partners to enhance

and facilitate employment of workers.

“First, the Career and Employment Coaching/Counseling

modules which was crafted by our Regional Network of

Career and Employment Coaches are already being used

by some universities and colleges in the region to guide

their students in making effective career choices. We are

targeting wider dissemination in the following year, as we

enjoin greater support from various stakeholders,” Jal-

buena said.

Aside from the CEC, Jalbuena said that Employability and

Productivity Enhancement Seminars are already being

given to tertiary students through the cooperation of the

Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 1, Com-

mission on Higher Education, Department of Trade and

Industry and the Employers Confederation of the Philip-

pines.

“Labor Market information is also being intensified

through partnership with PESOs, Jalbuena said, adding

that two (2) LGUs have already supported the institution-

alization of the Skills Registry System with their respec-

tive PESOs as the implementing arm of the project.

He said advocacy to Local Chief Executives for the institu-

tionalization of the SRS and PESO has already been

started.

These efforts are being undertaken in line with President

Benigno S. Aquino III’s thrust of prioritizing jobs that em-

power the people and opportunities to enable them rise

above poverty. (Question or inquiry about this press re-

lease? Please contact the DOLE-Regional Office 1 at tele-

phone numbers: (072)7002520/6078114; or email us at:

dole_ro1@yahoo.com; or visit us at: ro1.dole.gov.ph) – asv

RCC UpdatesRCC Updates

PAG E 6 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

Strengthened social partnership ups employment in

Region I

On DOLE’s 77th anniversary

Another LGU supports the SRS

R osales, Pangasinan – Another local government unit has just

extended its support to the Skills Registry System on the occa-

sion of the Department of Labor and Employment’s 77th Anniversary

celebration on December 8.

In a Memorandum of Agreement signing held at the SM City Rosales,

the Municipality of Rosales, Pangasinan has committed to institu-

tionalize the SRS by designating its Public Employment Services

Office as the implementing arm of the program. The commitment

comes with an undertaking to provide office space, equipment and

supplies for the conduct of SRS activities.

The MOA signing was accompanied with the awarding of necessary

equipment, SRS materials and electronic system.

DOLE 1 Director Henry John S. Jalbuena said the SRS, which is a

continuing nationwide manpower skills registration for jobseekers, is

envisioned to enhance the databank of manpower supply with their

corresponding skills and qualifications for ready access of employ-

ment service clients.

“The SRS aims to strengthen the current system of Register of labor

demand from employers that shall be available to both jobseekers and

employers through the existing Phil-jobnet,” Jalbuena said.

Jalbuena said the SRS will ensure the availability of relevant labor

market information needed to effectively facilitate the employment of

those unemployed and assist business establishments in sourcing

qualified manpower to fill their existing vacancies.

“With the SRS, we aim to capture the available skills of jobseekers in

the registry down to the grassroots to facilitate employment. We will

therefore work closely with the local government units to enjoin the

support and participation of barangays officials in various activities

of the program,” Jalbuena explained.

As outlined in the MOA, the Municipality of Rosales will mobilize

barangay officials and personnel to assist in the implementation of

SRS activities such as purposive data gathering, encoding of man-

power information, storage and updating of register and prepara-

tion of reports.

According to Jalbuena, the SRS is one of the strategies under the

DOLE Project Jobs Fit which primarily aims to address job-skills

mismatch.

“President Benigno S. Aquino III has put major emphasis on the job

mismatch problem in his 22-point labor and employment agenda by

forging stronger partnerships and coordination with social part-

ners,” Jalbuena said.

He said the DOLE 1 is set to generate broader local government

support to the SRS by conducting advocacy activities among

Local Chief Executives. - asv

PAG E 7 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

After holding job fairs on DOLE 77th Anniversary

DOLE 1 reports hired-on- the-spot

A fter successfully holding simultaneous job fairs to highlight the

77th DOLE Anniversary celebration on December 8, the Depart-

ment of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 reports to Labor

Chief Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz that 31 jobseekers were hired on

the spot.

The jobseekers, who were among the 321 registrants at the SM City

Rosales Job Fair, were placed immediately by the SM City Rosales,

Ace Hardware, and Jollibee SM Rosales after the on-site screening

done by the said establishments. The filled-up positions include cash-

iers, stock/sales utility clerks, warehouse clerks, baggers and check-

ers.

Twenty employers, composed of 11 local business establishments and

nine private recruitment agencies, participated in the job fair, offer-

ing over 200 job vacancies and over 1,000 overseas jobs, respectively.

The DOLE noted that the most recurrent local job vacancies were

sales clerks/executives, human resource related positions, engineers

and store managers/supervisors. Overseas employment opportunities

included teachers, salon workers, engineers, graphic artists/

designers, hospitality workers, factory workers and domestic helpers.

“Applicants who were not immediately hired must exercise a little

more patience in their job hunting because companies adopt different

selection procedures. It may take longer for most companies to com-

plete them until arriving at their final choice(s) for the position(s),”

DOLE 1 Director Henry John S. Jalbuena said.

Meanwhile, those who will not be hired by the participating employ-

ers will still be afforded chance to be employed because their personal

data and skills will be entered in the Skills Registry System which

have already begun in selected cities and municipalities across the

country, according to Jalbuena.

“All registrants were asked to fill up forms, which were collected by

our staff, and will be submitted to our concerned SRS focal person

who is responsible in encoding the data in the SRS,” Jalbuena ex-

plained.

Significantly, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement be-

tween the Municipality of Rosales and the DOLE 1 for the institu-

tionalization of the SRS was held during the opening ceremonies of

the job fair.

The SRS is part of the reform in employment facilitation which the

DOLE implements under President Benigno S. Aquino III’s ad-

ministration. It will serve as the national registry where job-

seekers may advertise their skills and at the same time, attract

investors to put up their businesses in a particular area where

there is abundance of the skills needed. (Question or inquiry about

this press release? Please contact the DOLE-Regional Office 1 at tele-

phone numbers: (072)7002520/6078114; or email us

at:dole_ro1@yahoo.com; or visit us at: ro1.dole.gov.ph) - asv

4 Regional Consultation on MTPDP 2011-2016

Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union

11 Employers Confederation of the Philippines

Regular Meeting, Chimes Building, Dagupan

City

12 Board Meeting, RTWPB 1, City of San Fernando,

La Union

17-21 Conduct of a Residential Competency-based

Training for HRM Practitioners, International

Rural Electrification Training Center, Agoo, La

Union

18 Special Job Fair for Construction and Industrial

Workers, Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center,

Lingayen, Pangasinan

20 Blessing of NCMB 1 office, Cuison Bldg., Quezon

Ave., City of San Fernando, La Union

24-26 Orientation on the use of the Manual on the Con

duct of Inspection, Rescue and Enforcement

Proceedings in Child Labor Cases

Calendar of ActivitiesCalendar of ActivitiesCalendar of Activities

January 2011January 2011January 2011

DECEMBER 2010 1 DOL E GAZ ETTE

DOLE 1 starts campaign for Voluntary Code of Good Practices

Dir. Henry John S. Jalbuena (left inset) addresses the

representatives of various hotels and restaurants in Dagupan City

during the organizational meeting for the Industry Tripartite

Council. The meeting is a step towards the formulation of the first

voluntary code of good practices in the region.

Department of Labor and Employment Regional

Director Henry John S. Jalbuena has urged the

officers and members of the newly organized Industry

Tripartite Council for Hotel and Restaurant Sector of

Dagupan City to formulate and adopt a voluntary

code of good practices.

In his opening remarks during the ITC’s organiza-

tional meeting, Jalbuena said the creation of the body

is the first step towards the formulation of the first

code in the region, specifically in the hotel and restau-

rant sector.

“The adoption of voluntary code of good practices in

industries is one of the reforms which we seek to

achieve under President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 22-

point labor and employment agenda,” Jalbuena said.

Underscoring the importance of tripartite cooperation

in ensuring industrial peace, Jalbuena said the code

will empower industries to observe self-regulation on

matters affecting labor, employment, social and eco-

nomic issues.

“This reform will help both labor and management set

flexible rules which are beneficial to both. Under this

condition, you will not only be able to protect your

industries, you will even help attract investments in

your area,” Jalbuena said.

Since July this year, four voluntary codes have al-

ready been adopted, namely, Davao City’s information

and communication technology-business process out-

sourcing industry and Cebu City’s business process

outsourcing-information and telecommunication; edu-

cation; hotel and restaurant, and tourism industries.

“Your continued support to the administration’s re-

form measures is again sought, as we strive to up the

ante in tripartite cooperation to elevate the standards

of employment, working conditions, company policies

and practices in industries,” Jalbuena said.

For the past years, ITCs in the region have helped

bring about major developments in labor and employ-

ment such as: 1) adoption of Social Accord for Indus-

trial Peace; 2) signing of MOA for Non Wage Benefits;

3) advocacies on Decent Work Agenda, specifically on

Labor Standards Enforcement Framework, Occupa-

tional Safety & Health, and Social Protection.

(Question or inquiry about this press release? Please

contact the DOLE-Regional Office 1 at telephone num-

bers: (072)7002520/6078114; or email us

at:dole_ro1@yahoo.com; or visit us at: ro1.dole.gov.ph)

– Arly Sta. Ana-Valdez