About 750 displaced workers, unemployed and out-of-school youth, from Region 6 have been provided emergency employment and livelihood training by the Department of Labor and Employment under its Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program.

Crispin Dannug, DOLE Western Visayas assistant regional director, said the CLEEP beneficiaries came from each of the region’s provinces and worked on the projects of their local government units worth some P3.75 million from the stimulus package of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The recipients of the program were employed in community work projects like the construction of covered drainage system, repair of farm-to-market roads, and barangay health centers, among others.

Dannug said the more populous provinces like Negros Occidental and Iloilo had more beneficiaries because there are many industries in these areas and thus they have higher numbers of worker displacement.

Since the employment phase was short-term, the beneficiaries were also given training to prepare them for long-term job opportunities, the DOLE said.

They were trained in hi-speed sewing and organic fertilizer production through resource experts aside from those trades taught under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Dannug said.

CLEEP funds cover projects under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers and also entitles beneficiaries social protection coverage with PhilHealth, the DOLE said.*PP

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