The unemployment rate is Western Visayas last year dropped to 6 percent, or 1.1 percent lower than the national average, putting the region in a slightly better position than other parts of the country, the new WV Labor Regional Director, Ponciano Ligutom, said yesterday.

That means the unemployed in the region dropped to 198,000 in 2011 from 211,000 in 2010, Ligutom said at a press conference in Bacolod City.

Western Visayas currently has a 3,079,000 million workforce, he said.

But those underemployed or working less hours than most a week for lesser pay in Region 6 increased from 22 percent or 693,00 individuals in 2010 to 24.4 percent or 750,000 individuals in 2011, he added.

Ligutom said that with increased infrastructure and information technology jobs available, he is optimistic about more employment in Region 6 this year.

WAGES

There is a 70 percent compliance with mandated wages in Region 6, and the DOLE will seek the compliance of remaining 30 percent, he added.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board yesterday agreed to hold another wage hearing on March 19 and come up with a decision on March 26.

Wennie Sancho, labor representative on the RTWPB, said labor is pushing for a P97 daily wage hike. The RTWPB could decide to grant a wage hike of an Emergency Cost of Living Allowance, he said.

ASSISTANCE

Meanwhile, the DOLE has allocated P35,620,360 for jobs and livelihood assistance for 8,272 targeted individuals in Region 6, of which P13,612,893 is for 3,229 target beneficiaries in Negros Occidental, Ligutom said.

Allocated for Negros Occidental is P7,491,893 under the Special Program for the Employment of Students who must be 15 to 25-year-old poor but deserving students or out of school youth, and P6,121,000 for livelihood programs, he said.

Those interested in availing of these programs available year round can apply for coverage at the Public Employment Services Offices, he said.

Included in the DOLE program is the distribution of starter kits or tools for plumbers, carpenters, manicurists and welders, he said.

DOLE distributed about P400,000 for a cattle fattening livelihood program in Biak na Bato and P300,000 for a chicken, quail and duck production project for the poor in Cabacungan, La Castellana town, Negros Occidental, recently, he said.

IMPROVED SERVICES

Ligutom vowed to enhance the services of DOLE in Region 6 under his watch.

A hotline to enable the labor force to text their concerns to the DOLE will be opened next week, he said..

Workers can text their complaints to us and the DOLE will conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the law, he said.

The DOLE has also opened satellite offices in Sagay City and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental to bring its services closer to the people, he said.

Ligutom said his thrust is to push for manpower development and employment promotion, ensure workers protection and welfare, and promote and maintain industrial peace.*CPG

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