5,787 CL workers get more than P160-M monetary claims from DOLE

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Some 5,787 workers from different parts of Central Luzon received P160,726,085.17 monetary claims through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLEs) Single Entry Approach (SEnA).

The SEnA’s inexpensive developmental mediation program of the Labor Department aims to speed-up resolution of various labor disputes between workers and employers.

DOLE Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the regional labor agency’s latest SEnA scorecard covers as of December 2018

Campita noted that total money claims accounted for a 99 percent rate in settling 2,234 of 2,250 requests for assistance (RFAs) handled by the regional and field offices.

“Of the 2,250 RFAs handled, our settlement rate represents the largest share of RFAs settled or withdrawn while the remaining 16 RFAs were referred to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), thus, translating to a 100 percent overall disposition rate of RFAs handled for CY-2018,” Campita explained.

Moreover, it only took an average of 3.8 days to settle said monetary claims, way ahead of the 30-day standard under the SEnA program.

The regional and field offices continued to improve the process cycle time in the settlement of RFAs with some less than a week or even within the day/ hour.

By province, Campita noted that Bulacan recorded the highest settlement amounting to P79,495,461.78 covering 1,068 workers, followed by Pampanga (including Clark Freeport Zone) with P41,200,617.33 covering 2,800 workers.

Meanwhile, other provinces garnered the following settlements: Tarlac (P20,421,369.86 – 659 workers), Zambales (P9,217,425.16 – 545), Bataan (P5,266,274.94 – 412), Nueva Ecija (P3,612,586.56 – 244), and Aurora (P1,469,306.15 – 56).

The regional office, through its Technical Support and Services Division (Labor Relations and Labor Standards) for its part, was able to settle monetary claims amounting to P43,043.39 covering 3 workers.

The SEnA is a fast yet inexpensive sought-after mediation venue for labor and management in resolving labor disputes, preventing them from experiencing expensive and tedious litigation processes.

To make a SEnA RFA, visit the DOLE Central Luzon’s Official website via http:// r o3.dol e.gov.ph/ and click the “Contact Us” for the DOLE-3’s hotline, regional and field offices’ numbers.

— Jerry Borja/ DOLE-3 LCO