To rescue families from their lost livelihood due to damages of severe weather conditions, a government agency is currently implementing emergency employment program in select sites of Davao Oriental.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Davao Region and the local government units (LGUs) of Boston, Cateel and Manay have put in funds amounting to P1.188 million to start employment in the areas heavily damaged by flooding and landslide when low pressure area and tropical depression “Agaton” battered the province last month.

“In times of disasters, as we have frequently experienced in recent times, we need emergency employment to cushion from economic shock particularly the vulnerable sectors like small (holder) farmers, informal sector and women,” DOLE Davao assistant regional director Venerando Cebrano said.

The emergency employment will cover the barangays Poblacion and Carmen in Boston town barangays Poblacion, San Antonio, Taytayan and Abejod  in Cateel town; and another four barangays: San Ignacio, Holy Cross, Zaragoza and Central in Manay town.

The project is expected to benefit some 203 individuals for 15 days of work which will include cleaning and grubbing as there are still debris left in the aftermath of the LPA and tropical depression “Agaton”.

“Aside from their daily minimum wage, they also have provisions of Red Cross Insurance, and personal protective equipment in doing their work,” Cebrano said.

In her previous statement, Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon said that in some respect the LPA and tropical depression “Agaton” have left more damages than typhoon Pablo in 2012.

Floods and landslides generated by the low pressure area began battering Mindanao and parts of the Visayas starting January 10 until it dissipated in January 22.

It has isolated a total of 183 villages in the province, and left 12 casualties in Davao Oriental alone, a report from Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

DOLE Davao Oriental Provincial Chief Albert E. Degamo that the continuous downpour during the LPA has caused massive landslides affecting a number of livelihoods of the residents.

“The project, which targets particularly the flash-flood affected families, will provide short-term wage employment as immediate source of income,” Degamo said.

Sherwin B. Manual/DOLE11