Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte – The Department of Labor and Employment Davao Region recently conducted an orientation to beneficiaries of Project CARESS.

Previously known as Project Caring for the Retrenched Employee of Samal (CARES), it is now called Caring for Retrenched Employees in Service Sector (CARESS).

CARESS aims to help the locals of Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) who were part of the tourism industry who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beneficiaries of CARESS are mostly habal-habal drivers whose source of income are tourists and employees of resorts that ceased operations.

This will provide quality training for their income-generating business or craft and, eventually, long term employment and sustainable source of income.

DOLE IGaCos Satellite Office Officer-In-Charge Leo Ariel Pepino said, “This project will bring many opportunities to the retrenched employees of IGaCoS. The project will provide training and starter kits for those who want to be plumbers, carpenter, welder, hollow block maker, floriculturist, and many more.”

DOLE Davao Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo discussed with the beneficiaries on how this project will contribute to their sustainability and furthermore to the city of Samal.

“Island Garden City of Samal should have a garden as part of its tourist attraction,” she said.

She also shared her vision for IGaCoS being the flower capital of Davao Region or perhaps even the flower capital of Mindanao.

After the orientation, the representatives from each beneficiary group were gathered to discuss and brainstorm on the process of implementation and execution of plans that was facilitated by RD Domingo herself.

by: Kim Salvaña, Labor Communications Officer, DOLE XI

with reports from: Carl Clarion, DOLE IGaCoS Satellite Office