Tacloban City (1 July) -- Workers in Eastern Visayas who were displaced by typhoon Frank are included in the priority list who will be recipients of the employment assistance program which the government is putting in place.

The workers in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Central Visayas (Region 7) are also priority of said program, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque stressed.

Secretary Roque said that he has already ordered the immediate activation of the DOLE adjustment measure program to fund the emergency employment and livelihood program for affected workers who lost their jobs and livelihood.

DOLE has already begun efforts to set in place an employment assistance program at providing emergency wage employment and livelihood to workers displaced by typhoon Frank in the hardes hit areas of the Visayas.

The DOLE personnel in Region 8, as well as that of Region 6 and Region 7, have already been directed to identify target beneficiaries in the typhoon-damaged areas, in coordination with the concerned local government units and other inter-agency groups.

The workers who lost their income and sources of livelihood like farm implements and animals due to the calamity will be prioritized.

To be specially given priority are the workers whose properties were totally damaged and those formerly engaged in a particular craft or skill.

Also to be given priority are the organized craftsmen or women in a particular productive trade and subsistence workers collectively operating a handicraft or micro-enterprise.

Secretary Roque informed that the assistance consists of two components, emergency employment and restoration of livelihood.

The first component will provide 720 Region 8, 1650 Region 6 and 410 Region 7 beneficiaries, thru the LGUs, with emergency employment particularly in clearing and de-clogging operations and reconstruction efforts like the repairs of damaged infrastructure such as school buildings, daycare center, drainage, irrigation system, and farm to market roads.

The second component will assist the beneficiaries in reviving their means of livelihood. Secretary Roque said the beneficiaries will be assisted in acquiring their livelihood resources such as farm implements, carpentry tools, cooking wares, repair kits, and even farm animals that had been lost due to the devastating typhoon.

About 1,200 affected workers from Region 8, 3600 from Region 6 and 600 from Region 7, will benefit from this second component.

The DOLE assistance to the affected workers will be channeled through accredited co-partners (ACPs).