DOLE readies emergency employment for Taal-affected residents

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is readying funds of up to PHP100 million to provide emergency employment to those affected by Taal Volcano’s unrest.

“We are prepared just in case there were will more people that will be affected by Taal’s eruption. We are preparing, I’ve instructed our finance officer to make ready and available PHP50-PHP100 million, in case it’s needed,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Talk to the People briefing on Tuesday night.

Bello said the assistance will be given to residents of affected areas –the municipalities of Agoncillo , Laurel, San Luis, Taal, Calaca, Calatagan and Lemery in Batangas.

The affected residents will be employed for 10 days and provided income based on the minimum wage in the region.

“The minimum wage in Region 4 is 400 (pesos) a day, so they will work for 10 days, we will give them PHP4,000 for 10 days work. We can give that immediately,” he added.

Bello said they will also provide livelihood assistance to affected individuals.

Based on the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the total number of families affected by Taal’s unrest is placed at 1,823 or 6,568 persons.

Some 1,166 families or 4,039 persons are currently taking shelter in 19 evacuation centers while those staying outside evacuation centers are around 484 families or 1,886 individuals.