The Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) inked its approval to several proposed

legislative and policy measures during its plenary meeting on 7 October 2014 at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), Diliman, Quezon City.

In addition, there were five (5) priority bills endorsed last year which two TIPC was approved legislative measures governing Philippine Labor and Employment for submission to the 16th Congress.

First, the “Union Registration Bill” or “An Act Further Strengthening Workers’ Right to Self-Organization, Amending for this Purpose Articles 234, 235, 236 and 237 of Presidential Decree No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, As Amended.” This bill seeks to reduce the minimum membership requirement for registration of independent unions from 20 percent to 10 percent and reduce the registration requirement for federation from 10 to 5 duly recognized bargaining agent-local chapters.

“The UR Bill seeks to align the Philippine Labor Code on registration requirements for independent unions and labor federations with ILO Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize)”, said Undersecretary Rebecca Chato, Vice-Chair of the TIPC.

As the second significant tripartite-endorsed bill, the “Labor Market Test Bill” or “An Act Amending Articles 40, 41 and 42 of the Labor Code of the Philippines whichimproves the rules on the employment of non-resident foreign nationals by specifying penalty provisions for foreign nationals who shall take up employment in violation of the rules, and making employers

Proposed legislative and policy reform measures gain nod of the TIPC

liable in the engagement of services of a foreign national without an employment permit.

The five (5) legislative measures earlier endorsed to the 16th Congress are the “Apprenticeship Bill” or “An Act Reforming the National Apprenticeship Program and Providing Regulatory Standards for the Training of Apprentices, and for Accreditation of the Programs, Thereof ”; the “PESO Bill” or “An Act Defining the Role of DOLE and LGU on the Establishment”;“OSH in the Construction Industry Bill” or“An Act Institutionalizing Occupational Health and Safety of Workers in the Construction Industry”;“Voluntary Compliance with Labor Laws Bill” or “An Act Fostering a Culture of Voluntary Compliance with Labor Laws, Amending for the Purpose Article 128 of the Labor Code of the Philippines”; and “Appeal of NLRC Decisions to the Supreme Court Bill” or “An Act Providing for Appeal of the Decisions of the National Labor Relations Commission To The Supreme Court, Amending for this Purpose

Articles 223 and 224 of the Labor Code of the Philippines.

In addition, the TIPC proved to be productive in its approval of another two significant issuances namely, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10524 (Employment of Persons with Disabilities) which requires that at least 1 percent of all positions to government agencies, offices or corporations shall be reserved for PWDs; and the Revised Rules on Private Recruitment and Placement for Local Employment which prohibits the collection of placement fees and streamlines the administrative procedure in disposing recruitment violations, among others.

The Department of Labor and Employment’s policy on tripartism and social dialogue, as reflected in the TIPC structure, serves as a firm foundation for its continuing efforts in fostering inclusive growth and industrial peace in the country through the active engagement of both workers and employers in the decision and policy-making processes of the government.

“The Union Registration Bill seeks to align the Philippine Labor Code on registration requirements for independent unions and labor federations with ILO Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize).”

- DOLE Undersecretary REbEcca chatO Vice-chair of the tIPc

DOLE Good News

2 October 2014

The Labor Communications Office is open to receiving letters from readers expressing their views and comments, and/or suggestions on articles that appear on the DOLE Good News. Letters should be no more than a hundred words. Your letters will be published in succeeding issues of the DOLE Good News. Send your letters to:

Department of Labor and EmploymentLabor Communications Office6th Flr. DOLE Bldg. Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila

or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com/laborcommunications@gmail.com

If you believe in Good News,

tell us.

The DOLE Good News is published by the Department of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and/or their sources and do not necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine Government’s.

Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 527-3000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@yahoo.com or laborcommunications@gmail.com.

EditorNICON F. FAMERONAG

Director, LCO

Associate EditorCATHERINE MARIE E. VILLAFLORES

Staff WritersCELESTE T. MARING

HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAYMA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

JULIENNE FORTUNATO - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ROSEMARIE CAMPOS - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

LUCHEL TANIZA - Region 7

MELDY TABANAO - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

SHERWIN B. MANUAL - Region 11

MICHELLE T. OLOG - Region 12

IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga

DOLEGood News

On the 14th National PESO Congress

ZAMPEN PESO Managers ‘invade’ GenSan

Philippine Employment Services Offices of the Zambales Peninsu-la have given recogntion, through

the PESO Managers, in implementing the Department of Labor and Employ-ment’s employment facilitation pro-gram during the 14th National PESO Congress, held in General Santos City on 22-24 October 2014.

Forty-five PESO Managers, together with Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano, trooped to the tuna capital of the Philippines to par-ticipate in the three-day event.

The PESO Congress served as av-enue for the PESOMAP Network to discuss opportunities and challenges of the ASEAN integration, and pre-pares them to embrace their herculean responsibilities as employment facilita-tion partners.

At the Congress, Hon. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (Sarangani, Lone District), gave a message of support before the conferment of the National Best PESO awards. With him, from the Zamboanga Peninsula, receiving special citations were Sylvia B. Sumon-dong of St. Vincent’s College, Dipolog City (SUC/NGO Category), Susan G. Cabrera of LGU- RT. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay (3rd-4th Class Municipality Category), and Otilla W. Ricablanca of Isabela City, Basilan (Component City Category). The crowd was inspired

with the presence of Hon. Karlo Alexei Nograles who was the guest of honor during the awards night.

During the congress, the Local Chief Executive’s good practices in PESO in-stitutionalization were recognized, and

Sylvia B. Sumondong (4th from left) of St. Vincent’s College and Dipolog City PESO Manager, bagged plaques of Special Citation for the SUC/NGO Category. With her are DOLE-ZamPen Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano (3rd from right) and DOLE-ZamPen staff.

successful Special Program for the Em-ployment of Students (SPES) beneficia-ries gave their testimonies on how the SPES program, through the interven-tion of the PESOs greatly shaped their careers.

DOLE Good News

3October 2014

The Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) has visited at random and evaluated the existing DOLE

livelihood projects in Camiguin through actual beneficiary interview.

The DOLE Provincial Field Office of Camiguin assisted the visitation of Maria Lourdes “Cheekee” J. Gonzales, Chief of the Workers in the Informal Economy Development Division of Gonzales of the BWSC.

The projects randomly selected were: a) Motor Parts Sales and Vulcanizing Shop of Tagdo Highlander Operators and Drivers Association, Tagdo, Mambajao; b) Campana Cut-Flower production of Campana Cut-flower Production Association, Pandan, Mambajao; c) Tourist Souvenir Shops Additional Financing Project of Bonbon Fishermen Associations, Bonbon, Catarman; d) CYMRAKAS’s Operation of Giant Clam Reproduction/Research and Development Laboratory and Rental Equipment Materials for Snorkeling and Floating Fish Cage Culture of Cantaan Centennial Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Guinsiliban, Cantaan; e) Mambajao Water District Workers Association; and f) TUPAD beneficiaries with Atty. Frances Margaret C. Aparte, Provincial Legal Officer.

The visitation of the bureau was successful and beyond satisfaction as articulated by its Chief. “It is important for us to randomly check and monitor the province’s DOLE approved projects because we want to assure ourselves that the projects are properly implemented and sustained with good management”. Gonzales said.

“Above our objective, we want to see how the people of Camiguin are served and have improved their living through our program. Due credits are given to the local government units through Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo and Congressman Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo,” she appreciated.

Together with the Camiguin DOLE staff, Ms. Jovelyn Perez and Mr. Glenford Labial, the team made a courtesy call with Honorable Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo, Congressman of the lone district of Camiguin.

BWSC is the recognized government agency that champions the development and protection primarily of disadvantaged workers, by contributing to their decent and productive employment.

By Jovelyn V. Perez and Glenford C. Labial

BWSC evaluatesCamiguin livelihood projects

(TOP TO BOTTOM) Maria Lourdes “Cheekee” J. Gonzales (2nd from right), Chief of the Workers in the Informal Economy Development Division of the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), together with DOLE Camiguin Field Office staff visit a campana cut-flower plantation in Pandan, Mambajao; a motorcycle parts and vulcanizing shop in Tagdo, Mambajao; and a workers association of the Mambajao Water District, all beneficiaries of the BWSC’s livelihood projects.

4 October 2014

DOLE Good News

Human Resource Department Services had organized three back-to-back specialized

trainings, including Training and Workshop on Competency Standards Development, Basic Course for Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs), and Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Training on 19 October 2014 at Bayview Park Hotel, Manila.

“We have doubled our effort to make sure the number of capacitated DOLE employees will increase considerably before the end of 2014. We are motivated by the thought that through our hard work, we are producing more competent individuals who will manage DOLE projects and programs effectively and efficiently,” said HRDS Chief Katherine B. Brimon.

It was reported that 52 Labor Law Compliance Officers (LLCOs) were trained which composed of newly hired LLCOs and non-LLCO personnel who can be tapped for augmentation whenever necessary.

52 LLCOs, 39 employees attend RBM&E training course

In the 10-day training on Basic Course for LLCOs , it focused on the essence on General Labor Standards, Labor Laws Compliance System, BWSC Programs and Services, Wage and Productivity Principles, Workplace Relations, Basic Occupational Safety and Health course, and Basic Skills for LLCOs.

Following the LLCO activity was the Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBM&E) training conducted on 22-24 October 2014 at the Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros.

In partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), DOLE convened 39 representatives from the Services, Bureaus, Regional Offices and Attached Agencies for the introductory course on RBM&E.

The training is in time with the Aquino Government’s move to conduct process assessment and impact evaluation in selected projects that will be identified by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). The intention is to determine if the projects are delivering what are expected from them and if it has really impacted people’s lives.

“Here in DOLE, we have existing monitoring tools, however, heterogeneous in form. We need a uniform tool that would beget common understanding of where we at in terms of implementation, substantiate the outcomes of our interventions, and at the same time describe the impact we are making in the lives of our stakeholders, “ said Assistant Secretary Maria Gloria M. Tango in her opening remarks.

Furthermore, the concepts and principles of M&E, tools and approaches used, measuring program results, and setting baselines and gathering data on indicators were introduced by Ms. Anne Leslie Santos and Mr. Clement Rasul, who facilitated the learning activities for three days. Workshops on logical framework and hands-on computation of proxy data were part of the program to give the representatives an idea of how these are done.

Training evaluation shows appreciation of the participants in the activity, giving emphasis on the effectiveness of the Resource Speakers and the modalities used such as plant visit, sharing of LLCO’s experiences, and role-playing, which were found helpful in understanding the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Assistant Secretary Maria Gloria M. Tango delivers her opening remarks during the Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBM&E) training at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros.

DOLE Good News

5October 2014

DOLE Good News

For their outstanding contribu-tions to the safety and health of their workers and their workplac-

es and communities, two institutions from the Cordillera Administrative Re-gion have been declared winners of the 9th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK), the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) highest and most prestigious award for occupation-al health and safety.

SN Aboitiz- Power Benguet Inc., Am-buklao Hydro-electric Power Plant and SN Aboitiz- Power Benguet Inc., Binga Hydro-Electric Power Plant received silver and bronze awards, respectively, for occupational safety and health un-der the Institutional Category during the awarding ceremony at the OSHC Auditorium, Diliman, Quezon City, on 27 October 2014.

SN Aboitiz power plants receive DOLE- GKK awardsIn her keynote message, Secretary

Rosalinda Dimapilis- Baldoz, encour-aged winners to share with the com-munity what they have achieved. She said: “I thus endeavor you, GKK win-ners, to zealously impart your com-mitment to safety and health and share this with other companies and individuals so that, they too, can be OSH champions. I foresee that we will achieve greater successes in uplift-ing the welfare of all Filipino workers whether here or abroad, with all the efforts we are doing”.

The GKK is one of DOLE’s five “seals of good housekeeping” under the Incentivizing Compliance Pro-gram (ICP), a major reform measure of the DOLE that aims to engender, encourage, and build a culture of vol-untary compliance with labor and

OSH standards among the country’s industries.

Regional Director Henry John S. Jal-buena said that SN Aboitiz Ambuklao and Binga Hydro-Electric Power plants serve as models of excellence in Oc-cupational Safety and Health through their investments in welfare and pro-tection of Filipino workers.”

The GKK is a biennial award given by the DOLE to companies and indi-viduals with outstanding occupational safety and health practices, programs, innovations, and contributions. It is one of the five good housekeeping seals under the DOLE’s Incentivizing Compliance Program which aims to encourage companies to voluntarily comply with general labor laws and occupational safety and health stan-dards.

Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (4th from left), together with Regional Director Henry John S. Jalbuena (5th from left), gave recognition to two institutions from the Cordillera, namely, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., Ambuklao Hydro-electric Powerplant (Silver) and SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., Binga Hydro-electric Power Plant (Bronze) during the 9th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan awarding ceremony at the OSHC.

DOLE Good News

6 October 2014

Participants reenact different situations under the ten dimensions of family welfare.

(Left) Gil Datayan Jr. lectures on the Employees Compensation Program; (center) Leo Diaz speaks on values formation and work ethics; and (right) Betty Lourdes Tabanda enlightens companies on sexual harassment in the workplace and violence against women.

The Department of Labor and Employment Cordillera Administrative Region has

gathered members of the Family Welfare Federation, including its stakeholders, both in private and public, in a regional summit on the Family Welfare Program (FWP) on 16 October 2014 at the Venue Park View Hotel in Baguio City.

“The regional summit on the Family Welfare Program is successful,” Henry John Jalbuena, DOLE-CAR Regional Director.

“Representatives from 41 organizations—educational institutions, hotel and restaurants, electric cooperatives, manufacturing, business process outsourcing services, retail and whole, management services, and mining in the region—comprised the 77 summit participants. They are either human resources managers, administrators, company nurses, and safety officers,” Jalbuena added.

The Family welfare Program is mandatory in establishments with more than 200 workers. It is aimed at promoting a healthy workplace as a key to business success.

At the summit, participants discussed best practices to attain better quality of life of the worker’s family that will contribute to reduce absenteeism and tardiness, as well as to a reduced job turn over; better quality workforce with high productive capacity; and significantly improved and peaceful industrial relations.

“The DOLE’s Family Welfare Program seeks to introduce the concept of promoting the welfare of the workers and their families as key to workplace productivity and improved worker-management relations,” said Jalbuena.

The summit was highlighted by an open forum where participants clarified issues and concerns on Family Planning and Reproductive Health, Sexual Harassment in the Workplace and Violence against Women and Children, Values Formation and Work Ethics and Updates on Employees Compensation Program.

In his message at the summit, Jalbuena said a company which has a Family Welfare Committee induces harmonious relationships between employer and

In CAR, Family Welfare Program took center stage in Summit

employee. He said employers with FWP will have to look not only at profits, but also at the 10 FWP dimensions, namely, Reproductive Health/ Responsible Parenthood; Education/Gender Equality; Spirituality and Values Formation; Income Generation/ Livelihood/ Cooperative; Medical Health Care; Nutrition; Environment Protection; Hygiene and Sanitation; Sports and Leisure and Housing and Transportation.

“These 10 dimensions result to better productivity of a company,” stated Judith R. Adina, President of the Family Welfare Federation–CAR.

The FWP is one of the DOLE’s strategies in fulfilling the goal of decent work for Filipino workers laid down in President Benigno Aquino III’s 22-point Labor and Employment Agenda and the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016.

DOLE Good News

7October 2014

Tacloban City – The National Maritime Polytechnic, the premier government maritime training and

research center in the country, conducted a five-day Workshop on Course Review and Revision of Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers Courses on 13-17 October 2014 at the NMP Training Building Complex in Brgy. Cabalawan.

The workshop is part of the agency’s preparation for another accreditation inspection from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) STCW Office.

Among the STCW Courses that underwent course review and revision were Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR), Personal Survival Techniques (PST), Proficiency in Survival Craft other than Fast Rescue Boat (PSCRB), Ratings Forming Part of Navigational Watch (RFPNW), Ratings Forming Part of Engineering Watch (RFPEW), General Operator’s Certificate for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GOC for GMDSS), Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF), Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA (RNRPUARPA), Consolidated Maritime Pollution (Conso MARPOL) 73/78 Annex I-VI, Medical Emergency First Aid (MEFA), and Elementary First Aid (EFA).

NMP tapped its pool of training specialists who handle these subjects as Subject Matter Experts (SME). Among those involved in the course review

NMP conducts workshop on Course Review and Revision of STCW Courses

and revision were Engr. Ponciano V. Trinidad, Maritime Training and Assessment Division OIC Head, for PSSR; Telesforo M. Sambalilo, Instructor I, for PST/PSCRB; 2/M Edgar J. Amoin, Associate Professor I, for RFPNW; Engr. Claro L. Coscos, Associate Professor I, for RFPEW; Abraham E. Pingol, Instructor I, for GOC for GMDSS; 3/M Leopoldo G. Abelinde, Associate Professor I, for FPFF; Ferdinand T. Go, Registrar III and former Maritime Trainer, for RNRPUARPA; Engr. Dario C. Cinco, Human Resource Management Section OIC Head and Maritime Trainer, for Consolidated MARPOL; and Danilo E. Ramos, guest trainer, for MEFA, and

EFA Engr. Ronnie D. Gernato, Assistant Professor I, and Engr. Jose Romualdo Q. Denzon, Assistant Professor I were also present to assist in the review and revision.

The Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) with its OIC Head Lydia S. Pacheco acted as facilitator and pedagogic expert together with Maria Sandra M. Gallardo, Planning Officer II; Ma. Chona B. Rama, Learning Resource Center Head; and Jed Paolo A. Cairo, Administrative Officer IV.

The participants of the workshop formed themselves into working teams.

Bilang patunay ng sarap ng loglog, simula noong pagbukas nila sa Public Market noong Pebrero, ay dalawang beses nang may nagtanong at gustong bilhin at mag franchise ng Loglogan Ni Waday.

“Masarap, murang-mura at malinis pa! Kaya binabalik-balikan naming ito. Kahit malayo sa amin. Aprub!” wika ni Ginoong Win Baloloy at Gng. Honorina Baloloy, mag-asawang dumarayo pa galing sa malayong barangay ng Fidel Surtida, Sto. Domingo, Albay.

Sa paglago ng Loglogan Ni Waday ay masasabing totoo nga na malaking tulong ang mga livelihood programs ng gobyerno lalo na kung ito ay mapupunta sa kamay ng karapat-dapat. Ito ang naging pangunahing basehan ni Barangay Chairwoman Ofelia Balunso ng Barangay Market Site, Sto. Domingo, Albay sa pagrerekomenda niya sa mag-asawang Balunso para sa Nego kart Project ng DOLE.

“Mahirap maghanap ng benepisaryo sa livelihood. Hindi mo alam kung seseryosuhin o isasalaula. Maraming nagsasabi sakin na bakit daw ang ibang barangay madaming nirerequest sa DOLE pero dito sa Market Site konti lang. Ang dahilan ay ayaw kong mapahiya sa oras na walang mangyari sa livelihood. Sa akin, kahit isa lang at kahit hindi ko kadikit bastat nakita ko na maayos, walang bisyo at desidido sa buhay, yan ang irerekomenda ko dahil

ayaw kong mapahiya sa DOLE at para makaulit pa.” giit ni Brgy. Chair Ofelia B.

Lalo pang sumikat ang “Loglogan Ni Waday” ng ito, kasama ang DOLE-Bicol, ay mai-feature ng Bombo Radyo Legazpi nitong nakaraang Oktubre sa programang “Negosyo at Trabaho” ni Bombo Kim Reolo. Sa katunayan, dalawang malalaking stasyon pa ng radyo at telebisyon ang nagpahiwatig ng interes at nakipag ugnayan sa DOLE-Bicol upang masusog ang storya ng Loglogan Ni Waday bilang isang success story ng Nego Kart Project.

“Matagal na talaga kaming naghahanap ng kwento na galing sa Nego Kart dahil ang daming pinamigay ng DOLE dito. Gusto naming malaman kung ano na ang nangyari sa mga kariton. Natutuwa kami na at least eto may isa na talagang umasenso” paliwanag ni Bombo Kim.

Sa ngayon ay nag-iipon na ang pamilya Balunso ng kaunting halaga mula sa araw-araw na kita para pambili ng sarili nilang bahay. “Maraming maraming salamat po DOLE sa inyo nagsimula ang lahat-lahat”, ang napapaluhang sambit ni Ate Malou at Kuya Cesar.

“Bagamat ang buhay ay puno ng pagsubok at paghihirap, wag na wag susuko, ika nga hindi kailanman nagtatagumpay ang umaayaw. Gayahin ang kwento ng Loglogan ni Waday na umunlad mula sa isang simpleng nego kart na ngayon ay isa ng malaki at asensadong restaurant” pagtatapos ni DOLE Bicol regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra.

Nego Kart . . . (mula sa pahina 7)

Each SME for an STCW Course is given a pedagogic expert for the review and revision. The five parts of the course plans were appraised if they satisfy the minimum standards of the STCW Code and the requirements issued by MARINA STCW Office.

The review and revision of NMP‘s STCW courses are supplemental efforts initiated to execute the policy agreed by the NMP Board of Trustees headed by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz in steering the NMP to apply for accreditation as a training center and on its training courses and trainers and assessors with then Maritime Training Council (MTC) and now, MARINA STCWO.

This is in accordance with the implementation of RA 10635 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations establishing MARINA as the single maritime administration in the country responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the 1978 International Convention of STCW for Seafarers, as amended, and international agreements or covenants related thereto. With this law, MARINA became responsible for the recognition and approval of maritime education and training (MET) programs that are compliant as prescribed under the STCW Convention.

Sto. Domingo, Albay- “Pag binigyan ka ng tulong ng gobyerno, palaguin mo, wag na

wag sasayangin”, ani ni Gng. Marilou “Ate Malou” Balunso, 37-yrs. old, isa sa limang naging benepisaryo ng Negosyo Sa Kariton o “Nego Kart” ng Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. V (DOLE-Bicol) limang taon na ang nakalilipas.

Sa limang naging benepisaryo ng Nego Kart sa maliit na bayan ng Sto. Domingo, Albay noong taong 2009, ang “Loglogan ni Waday” ang masasabing nag-iisang lumago at yumabong. Ito marahil ay dahil na din sa pagsisikap, pasensya, pagtitiyaga at pagpapahalaga ng pamilya Balunso sa tulong na ipinagkaloob sa kanila ng gobyerno.

Ang dating kariton, ngayon ay isa ng malaki at sikat na restaurant-kainan sa Bayan ng Sto. Domingo sa lalawigan ng Albay.

“Naalala ko noon walang gustong magpa utang samin kasi daw wala naman kaming pambayad. Kahit P100 ayaw talaga kaming pautangin. Pero ngayon halos lahat ata ng Bombay pumupunta dito at nag aalok ng pa-utang. Sabi namin salamat na lang” maluha-luha ngunit nakangiting kwento ni Ate Malou.

Kung noon nasa kanto ng isang eskinita sa harap ng isang luma at sira-sirang bahay sa kalye ng Brgy. Market Site, Sto. Domingo, Albay, nagtitinda ng barbecue ang mag- asawang “Ate Malou” at “Kuya Cesar”, ngayon ay may sarili na silang pwestong inuupahan ng P1,890.00 kada buwan sa 2nd floor ng Sto. Domingo, Public Market.

Kung noon ang gamit ng mag-asawa sa pag ba-barbecue ay isang maliit na lamesa na gawa sa tirang coco lumber na pinulot mula sa isang construction site, isang lumang chicken wire at kapirasong yero na binuong parang kahon para may masabing grill, ngayon ay mayroon na silang dalawang gas stove.

“Ni hindi nga ako marunong magsindi ng gas stove noon. Siguro mga isang lingo pa bago ko na master magsindi ng gas stove na bigay ng DOLE kase nga po uling lang ang alam kong gamitin at yung durog pa,” masayang pagbabalik-tanaw ni Ginoong Eros Ceasar “Kuya Cesar” Balunso, 35-yrs old, asawa ni “Ate Malou”.

“Siguro naikot namin ang buong sentro ng Sto. Domingo sa pagpapalipat-lipat ng pwesto kasi nga ipinagtatabuyan kami dahil side walk vendor nga lang. Pag sinisita kami sa pwesto bibitbitin namin lahat tapos lipat. Nagkakanda-paso kami kasi mainit yung uling. Ganun po ang buhay namin. Talagang napakahirap,” sambit ni Ate Malou habang ipinapakita ang mga naghilom na paso sa kamay.

Ani ng mag asawa, nagsimulang mabago ang kapalaran ng kanilang pamilya dahil sa tulong ng gobyerno partikular ang DOLE Nego Kart Project. Dito dumating ang lahat ng “swerte nila sa buhay”. Dahil sa Nego Kart, hindi na sila nakikipag-patintero sa pwesto at sa mga opsiyal ng munisipyo bagkus ay naging “lehitimo” ang kanilang maliit na negosyo.

“Natuto kaming kumilos nang mabilis. Pati yun mga bata tinuruan na naming tumulong. Noong naisipan naming magdagdag ng lutuin na loglog, yung mga bata ang taga-pwesto. Alam na nila ang gagawin paggising sa umaga bago pumasok at pagdating galing eskwela. May kanya-kanya

“Loglogan ni Waday”

Nego Kart na naging

Restaurant

na silang toka. Ayaw man namin silang pagtrabahuhin pero wala po kaming magagawa basta hindi naman napapabayaan yung pag-aaral,” paliwanag ni Kuya Cesar.

Mula sa Nego Kart at kalahating kilong pansit loglog ay unti-unting umasenso at nakaraos ang pamilya. Sa pagdagdag ng kanilang kita ay naglakas-loob ang mag-asawang Balunso na kumuha ng pwesto sa Public Market na kanilang sinimulan nito lamang Pebrero 1, 2014. Sa paglipat sa bagong pwesto ay lalong lumago ang negosyo kung saan ngayon ay bulto-bulto ng pansit loglog ang iniluluto at nauubos araw-araw.

Ang kanilang limang anak na sina Renzo June, 15 yrs. old at 4th yr. high school, Junela, 14 yrs. old at Grade 8, John John-12 yrs. old at Grade 7, Yanie, 10 yrs.old – Grade 5 at Em-Em-9yrs.old at Grade 4, ang unang nabiyayaan sa pag-angat ng buhay ng pamilya Balunso.

“Hindi po kami makabili ng gusto naming pagkain at laruan noon. Bihira din po kaming maglaro kasi po kailangan tumulong. Ngayon po nabibili na naming ang gusto namin at pwede ng maglaro kahit anong oras,” sabi ni Yanie, 10-yrs. old at isang

Grade 5 pupil. Kung dati hindi makapaglaro ng basta-basta ang limang anak,

ngayon pwedeng-pwede na dahil mayroon ng dalawa (2) hanggang talong (3) katulong o waiter ang “Loglogan Ni Waday”. Nakabili na din sila ng Personal Computer at iba pang mga “latest” na kasangkapan.

Ang dating pinagtatabuyang street vendor na nagkakasya sa mga “tirang” gamit, ngayon ay “employer” na.

“Ay yung mga waiter po namin kung minsan tatlo kung minsan dalawa. Dito na sila natutulog stay-in, libre lahat matagal na sila dito simula pagbukas namin nitong restaurant. Kung ano po ang kinakain namin yun din ang kinakain nila. Parang ka pamilya din lang,” sabi ni Ate Malou.

Hindi lamang ang pamilya Balunso ang nagtamasa ng biyaya sa pag-angat ng kanilang pamumuhay bagkus pati ibang tao. Bilang ganti sa “swerteng” dumating sa kanilang buhay, ang mga kinukuhang waiter sa “Loglogan Ni Waday” ay galling sa malalayong barangay ng Sto. Domingo, Albay na kadalasan ay siya ring inaasahan ng kanilang pamilya.

“Mabait po sina Ate. Nagpapasalamat po ako na nakapasok ako dito kasi ako po ang inaasahan ng pamilya namin. Mahirap po maghanap ng trabaho at mas mahirap maghanap ng mabait na amo. Kaya po pinagbubutihan ko ang trabaho para mas dumami

ang customer namin,” ani Ariel Escaluche, waiter 20-yrs. old taga San Isidro, Sto. Domingo, Albay at isang taon nang naninilbihan sa Loglogan Ni Waday.

Dahil na din sa linamnam at kakaibang lasa ng ordinary at special loglog sabayan pa ng ma-anghang na home-made chili sauce na mismong ang mag-asawa ang nag eksperemento at nakakaalam ng sekreto sa pagluluto, dagdag pa ang murang presyo na P12.00 sa regular at P35.00 sa special loglog, kaya dinarayo ang Loglogan Ni Waday.

Dahil dito ang puhunan na bigay ng DOLE-Bicol ay na-triple kung saan ang kita ay umaabot sa na humigit-kumulang P5,000.00 kada araw.

Sundan sa pahina 7