Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

| 7474
House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. ALAN 1 B. ECLEO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution declares that the State shall afford full protection to labor,
local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and
equality of employment opportunities for all. Further, pursuant to Executive Order No.
126, s. 1987, it shall be the primary responsibility of the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) the promotion of gainful employment opportunities and the
optimization of the development and utilization of the country's manpower resources, the
advancement of workers’ welfare by providing for just and humane working conditions
and terms of employment, and the maintenance of industrial peace by promoting
harmonious, equitable, and stable employment relations that assure equal protection for
the rights of all concerned parties.

According to the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in
the third quarter of 2019, around 21.5 percent or an estimated 10 million adult Filipinos
are unemployed. This is an increase from the data gathered in 2018. Particularly in
Caraga Region, employment rate fell by 0.8 percentage point, from 95.9 percent in the
third quarter of 2018 to 95.1 percent in the third quarter of 2019. This resulted in the rise
of unemployment rate to 4.9 percent during the period.’

The Department has developed various programs to promote gainful employment
and curb the unemployment rate. In Dinagat Islands, it has been proposed in the
discussion with the national line agencies that DOLE will provide sustainable livelihood
assistance or entrepreneurship to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable workers and will
also provide short term wage employment assistance to displaced or underemployed
workers in the informal sectors who lost their livelihood due to calamities. However
laudable these projects are, there is still a stark difficulty tracking their progress and
execution, not to mention that there are still gaps in the implementation of active labor
market programs that will help workers access better jobs and lack of provincial programs
that will strengthen the demand for labor, especially in a geographically challenged

1 http://nro13.neda gov ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/QRES_30.2019-FINAL pdf


province like Dinagat Islands. More so, the current pandemic makes delivery of
government assistance even arduous for the remote province of Dinagat which in tum
uncorked a plethora of employment issues.

In line with the preceding, this bill proposes the establishment of a Provincial Office
of the Department of Labor and Employment in the Province of Dinagat Islands. This will
certainly bolster the economy as it will easily identify the key labor market challenges that
the province face, outline potential solutions to address these challenges, and help to
implement appropriate strategies for better employment.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ALAN( B. ECLEO
Representative, Lané District of Dinagat Islands


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

<3
Hoven Bil Noemie

Introduced by Hon. ALAN 1 B. ECLEO.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROVINCIAL OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JOSE,
PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Establishment of Provincial Office of the Department of Labor
and Employment in the Dinagat Islands. -There shall be established, under the direct
supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment, a Provincial Office of the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Municipality of San Jose, Province
of Dinagat Islands, to be known as the DOLE Dinagat Islands Provincial Office which shall
promote gainful employment opportunities, develop human resources, protect workers
and promote their welfare, and maintain industrial peace.

SEC. 2. Transfer of Records and Assets. - The Secretary of the Department of
Labor and Employment shall transfer the records, property, equipment, supplies, and
materials pertaining to the jurisdiction and administration of the said DOLE Dinagat
Islands Provincial Office in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

SEC. 3. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall include
in the department's program the operationalization of the DOLE Dinagat Islands
Provincial Office, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the current year's
appropriations of the Department of Labor and Employment, and thereafter, the
succeeding funding shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within six (6) months following
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions which are not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. Any other law, issuance or part thereof inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,