Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IX Zamboanga City Tel./Fax No. (062) 991-2673

ADVISORY

TO: PO/CO/Division/RTWPB-IX Heads & Staff

RE: PRIORITY THRUSTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2011

DATE: 01 January 2011

To serve as blueprint in the implementation of various priority programs and services in Zamboanga Peninsula Region for Calendar Year 2011, hereunder are the thrusts and priorities of DOLE, Zamboanga Peninsula Region, to wit:

1. Enhance the supervisory knowledge and skills of the program managers, focal persons, and senior officers in the regional, provincial and city offices through the conduct of “Program Planning and Management Training” early this year to be facilitated by the Internal Management Service Division (IMSD). Furthermore, IMSD and the Technical Support Services Division (TSSD) in coordination with the PESO Academy shall design and facilitate training workshops for program managers and selected staff on Community Organizing, Project Proposal Preparation, Training of Trainers, etc.;

2. Intensify implementation of Project LEAP through the conduct of inspection for covered establishments including those that refused to attend the Training and Advisory Visits (TAVs) and failed to submit the checklist in the case of establishments covered under the Self-Assessment (SA). All Field Offices (FOs) are advised to conduct listing of new establishments and update the existing masterlist not later than January 31, 2011, as basis in the issuance of inspection authority and the provision of checklists;

3. Monitor developments on action plans submitted by the employers who participated in the TAVs and regularly conduct seminar-workshops to covered establishments vis-à-vis the target for 2011. Also, FOs are advised to prioritize distribution of checklists to organized establishments to include those that employ 200 and above workers;

4. DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) funds shall be equitably allocated in ten (10) districts based on the approved appropriation for 2011. Priority shall be the areas (Provinces, Cities and Municipalities) that have not yet received any livelihood assistance, and the principle on “first come, first to qualify, and first to be served” shall be consistently applied. Proposed projects shall be in accordance with the mandates and deliverables of the Department that would immediately generate income and employment. However, concerned field offices (FOs) which failed to submit/endorse proposals to the Regional Office (RO) for evaluation and deliberation, their allocation for a given period shall be given to the other FOs which submitted viable proposals. The Sibugay Rubber Rehabilitation Program shall be a priority;

5. FOs shall continuously monitor and evaluate the DILP projects particularly those that were funded in calendar years 2008, 2009, and 2010, and intensify “100% liquidation” of funds. Priority shall be directed towards providing technical assistance to both the beneficiaries the Accredited Co-Partners (ACPs) in the implementation of projects and to follow-up and retrieve liquidation reports and supporting documents. Monitoring tools in the M & E Manual shall be used to gather the necessary data and information for analysis and evaluation, and to simplify the reporting system;

6. DOLE-9 Audit Task Force shall submit an audit and monitoring plan and continue to render technical assistance to FO counterparts, ACPs, and beneficiaries to sustain project implementation and operation;

7. RO, through the TSSD and IMSD, shall finalize and print the M & E Manual for distribution to all FOs and concerned units;

8. All Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) pledges shall be collated by the RO not later than January 10, 2011and approval shall be issued not later than January 15, 2011. In case there will be an excess on the amount pledges vis-à-vis the total available SPES grants, pro-rata maybe used and priority to be catered are employers in the private sector(at least 50%). TSSD shall analyze the pledges and submit sharing allotments to the ORD for approval. Implementation shall be in accordance with the approved Omnibus Guidelines for SPES for CY 2011 and the new SPES guidelines;

9. RO, through TSSD, shall facilitate the organization of the “DOLE-9 Intermediaries’ Council.” It shall compose of the following:

a. ZamPen PESO Managers Association b. ZamPen Occupational Safety and Health Network c. ZamPen Guidance Counselors Network d. Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council e. Federation of Family Welfare Committees f. Union Officers Club g. ZamPen Productivity Council;

10.FOs should focus on the promotion of DOLE’s programs/services and strengthening of intermediaries in the City/Provincial level, while RO thru TSSD will take charge on the strengthening and facilitating of the federation or regional association of intermediaries;

11.FOs to work with Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Technical vocational Institutions (TVIs), and Private Educational Institutions (PEIs), for the institutionalization of PESOs;

12.RO, in coordination with the FOs, guidance counselors, PESO managers, and other program partners, shall advocate the Project Jobs Fit (PJF) in the private and public schools. Moreover, TSSD shall facilitate the conduct of another round of consultation among the key players to update the PJF with the emerging jobs and skills in the region;

13.TSSD, in coordination with the concerned FOs and PESOs, shall facilitate re- planning the Skills Registry System (SRS) Program to cover six areas and strengthen advocacy campaign in the barangay level. SRS focal persons shall submit plan of activities to include monitoring, evaluation, and strategies to address program complementation requirements;

14.RO thru TSSD, in partnership and/or convergence with the concerned intermediaries, shall design and conduct capability building seminars/trainings for Private Recruitment and Placement Agencies (PRPA) owners/managers and authorized representatives, and Job/Service Contractors to strengthen the employment facilitation program;

15.FOs, in coordination with the Rotary Clubs and the City/Provincial TIPCs, shall continue to undertake preliminary activities in preparation for the Awarding of the Regional Search for Outstanding Employers and Employees in the Private Sector scheduled on May 1, 2011;

16.Technical Resource Team (TechReT) to develop and finalize the M & E System within the first two months of 2011 as well as to design other IT systems that are relevant and appropriate in the implementation of the Department’s programs and services(DO18-02, PRPA, RWA, AEP, etc). Advised further to update, maintain, and enhance the existing Websites, Automated Document Tracking System, and the Financial Monitoring System;

17.RO and FOs to visit and use the DOLE ZamPen facebook as another means of transmitting and receiving official data and communications and social networking requirements;

18.Need to redefine and/or fine tune TSSD staff’s workload assignment vis-à-vis the position;

19.RO and FOs to create and/or strengthen the communication groups to be able to establish or improve the systems and protocols of all incoming and outgoing communications including reports, write ups and press releases;

20.RO thru TSSD shall organize the Sports and Cultural Committee (to be chaired by a nominee of the staff union) in January 2011 as part of the Champion Teams, and prepare and submit an action plan in preparation for the major events of the Department for CY 2011 such as but not limited to the Labor Day, June 12 celebration, DOLE anniversary, etc.;

21.IMSD to conduct inventory of supplies, materials and equipment and to plan for procurement of equipment and the repair and maintenance of vehicles;

22.The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-9) shall work with DOLE9 and promote the implementation of the “One Locality, One Industry, One Service Quality” approach to increase productivity and competitiveness of both the employers and the workers and to promote local community tourism in ZamPen;

23.RTWPB-9 shall arrange, coordinate, and work with the FOs for the conduct of Labor Relations, Human Relations and Productivity (LHP) and Training and Advisory Visits (TAV) Seminars;

24.RTWPB-9 to design a training proposal for the conduct of the “Training on Facility Evaluation and Time and Motion Study” to be attended by selected RTWPB and DOLE-9 staff;

25.The Board shall continuously review the existing wage rates, structures and levels to address the social and economic concerns of both the management, labor and the community;

26.The Board shall plan a study tour among the members and secretariat, if possible, outside the country for benchmarking. An activity proposal shall be prepared and submitted to NWPC for funding;

27.The Voluntary Code for Good Practices in the Fishing/Canning Industry shall be promoted by the TSSD in cooperation with Zamboanga City Office and launching/signing of the same shall be scheduled not later than January 31, 2011;

28.The PESO Academy shall continue to conduct courses not only for PESO managers but to include GCNet members, other intermediaries and DOLE/RCC staff;

29.The SENA implementation shall be continuously monitored by all RCC members;

30.The Testing and Job Coaching Center shall be commissioned within the 1st qtr. of 2011; and

31.Awarding and recognition of outstanding performance of staff and units in the implementation of programs and services as well as in the conceptualization of local initiatives.

Updating of priorities is subject to the issuances of the Secretary of Labor and Employment in accordance with the 22-point Labor and Employment Agenda of the Aquino administration.

Please be guided accordingly.

(Original Signed) PONCIANO M. LIGUTOM, CEO VI Regional Director c.c. -Usec. Lourdes M. Trasmonte -Asec. Ma. Joji Aragon -All units -RTWPB-9