by Rachelle M. Nessia

Dumaguete City (4 July) -- Workers in Central Visayas who were displaced by the recent Typhoon Frank that left a deadly trail in its wake in the country can expect employment assistance from the government.

Labor and Secretary Marianito Roque recently ordered the immediate activation of the adjustment measures program (AMP) of the Department of Labor and Employment to fund the emergency employment and livelihood program for affected workers who lost their jobs and livelihood as a result of the wreckage left by Typhoon Frank.

Roque said priority is given to displaced workers in Regions 6, 7 and 8 or Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, respectively, which are areas hardest hit by the typhoon, causing flood and mudflow.

Efforts of employment assistance are already underway to provide emergency wage employment and livelihood to displaced workers in the said areas.

Roque said that workers who lost their income and livelihood sources like farm implements and animals due to the calamity will be prioritized especially those whose properties were totally wrecked and those formerly engaged in a particular craft or skill.

Organized craftsmen or women in a particular productive trade and subsistence workers collectively operating a handicraft or micro-enterprise will also be prioritized, he added.

Roque said that the assistance consists of emergency employment and restoration of livelihood.

About 5,400 affected workers will benefit from this second component of which about 3,600 will come from Region 6; 600 from Region 7; and 1,200 from Region 8.

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