The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI recently launched its Davao Occidental Field Office. This makes it the sixth provincial office of the department in the region following its ratification as a province in 2013.

The launching ceremony for the new DOLE XI Provincial Office was conducted last Friday, March 24 in the province’s capital municipality, Malita. Gracing the event were DOLE XI former Regional Director Joffrey M. Suyao and OIC Assistant Regional Director Jason P. Balais together with the different provincial heads of the department. It was also attended by Davao Occidental Governor Claude P. Bautista, Malita Municipal Mayor Bradley L. Bautista’s chief of staff Benjamin Bautista III together with other municipal officials in the province.

During his opening statement, Director Suyao thanks the local and provincial government for their support in making the launching possible. He also shared that it has been their long dream to put up the office.

“We regard this as a very important province. We see that this needs our help the most. We insisted in opening this up. This couldn’t happen without your support and our officials,” he said.

Director Suyao added that since the budgetary was not yet approved, they have decided to “carve-out” from the Department’s personnel in order to augment the needed people to put up the provincial office in the area.

Governor Bautista, in his message, responded positively to the request of the department and committed to lobby for the approval of the budget for plantilla positions for DOLE Davao Occidental.

“We will work hand in hand and I know we cannot make successful programs without the help of each other. I hope that the people of DOLE will be there. Thank you for your presence in our province. The programs of Davao Occidental lies in the livelihood programs that we intend to do,” he said.

During the event, a turnover of responsibility for the province was conducted between DOLE XI Davao del Sur Field Office Chief Henry O. Montilla and DOLE XI Davao Occidental Field Office OIC Chief Lariele P. Arce.

The new DOLE field office will be handling five municipalities of the province namely Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Santa Maria, and Sarangani.

Davao Occidental Province was ratified by virtue of Republic Act 10360 which was enacted back in 2013. DOLE XI Davao Occidental Field Office is located at second floor, Benjamin Bautista Manpower Building in Poblacion Malita.

Kriztja Marae G. Labrador/LCO-DOLEXI