DOLE Clark settles more than P2.7-M money claims

CLARK FREEPORT— The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Clark Satellite Office, through its Single Entry Approach, settled small money claims amounting to P2,716,765 for the month of July.

Commonly known as SEnA, the Single Entry Approach is a flagship meditational program of the DOLE which aims to resolve labor disputes speedily and inexpensively.

DOLE Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the small money claims benefited some 178 workers working from different Clark Freeport locators and nearby areas.

“Thanks to the presence of our satellite office here at the Clark Freeport, it makes it easier and more accessible for workers here to seek assistance in resolving their labor issues with their employers. We are happy to report our SEnA scorecard this July as an important milestone as far as industrial mediation is concern,” Campita said.

“The SEnA has been around for nearly 10 years and we have found great success in preventing various labor disputes materialize into full blown labor standard cases. We are thankful that parties of interest who seek our assistance find our intervention through the SEnA very helpful in the speedy resolution of their issues,” she added.

DOLE Clark Satellite Office (CSO) was able to resolve and settle 46 Requests for Assistance (RFAs) with an average of three days says DOLE CSO head Jose Roberto Navata.

“We were able to handle quite a load of RFAs for this July alone and we are thankful that we hit a 100 percent disposition rate where were able to come up with win-win solutions for both management and workers in the least amount of time,” Navata said.

Labor and Employment Officer Jerwin Bargas, the DOLE CSO’s SEnA Desk Officer (SEADO), said that the SEnA made it cost-effective for complainants availing the DOLE’s assistance.

“Before, our workers here at Clark Freeport would have to spend hefty on travel commute expenses and endure local traffic all the way to the DOLE regional office or Pampanga Field Office in the City of San Fernando just to file a Request for Assistance. But now, all they have to do is visit our office situated at the One Stop Shop Services for OFWs (OSSCO) and file them here instead,” Bargas said.

The DOLE’s SEnA will continue to be the soughtafter and most inexpensive mediation intervention in resolving various labor disputes for both workers and their employers.— Jerry Borja/ DOLE-3 LCO