Coron Haiyan response culminating event

Culminating Event of ILO's Haiyan Response in Coron, Palawan

As the International Labour Organization (ILO) Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Response drew to a close at the end of October 2015, the Project Office in Palawan organized a half-day culminating activity on 19 October. At this, the team showcased the results of the collaborative efforts of the ILO and its implementing partner organizations, and campaigned for the commitment of stakeholders in sustaining these initial investments.

The event, held at the Coron Westown Resort, was also a venue for stakeholders to demonstrate the results of sub-projects implemented, and share experiences and lessons learnt in the course of the Haiyan Response Project implementation. ILO sub-projects in the province on emergency employment, local resource-based works, skills development, and enterprise assistance reached about 3,069 individuals (1,686 men and 1,383 women) from thirty barangays in the municipalities of Busuanga, Coron, and Linapacan, generating more than 50,000 work days.

A short ceremonial turn-over of sub-project outputs was held, together with a public exhibit and bazaar of enterprise products – including vermicast, sawali baskets, cakes and pastries, and other native delicacies – supported throughout the project’s duration.

Letters of Commitment to decent work were signed by Hon Elizabeth Cervantes, Busuanga Municipal Vice Mayor, and Hon Jim Gerald Pe, Coron Municipal Vice Mayor, signifying the adherence of local government units to national labour standards, among them, the payment of minimum wages, compliance to occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, and the provision of social protection to all workers.

A Collection Agency Agreement was also signed by Mr Abdultalib Abirin, Social Security System (SSS) Palawan Branch Head, and Busuanga Vice Mayor Cervantes. This will benefit local SSS contributors who, starting in January 2016, will no longer have to travel all the way to Puerto Princesa to pay their premiums.

Partners from regional government agencies (Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Social Welfare and Development), social protection partners (Social Security System and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation), the provincial government and local government units of Palawan, implementing partner NGOs, community-based organizations, and industry players were in attendance.

The Governments of Norway and Japan supported the ILO Haiyan response in Palawan.