Malou Pandili, human resource manager of MINTRADE, a wood manufacturing company located along R. Castillo St., Agdao, Davao City, has testified that the DOLE’s Single Entry Approach (SEnA) conciliation-mediation mechanism is advantageous to both employers and workers and has served her company well.

“With the SEnA, the disposition of labor issues is speedy and fair,” she observed.

Pandili made the statement shortly after MINTRADE recently paid nine of its workers P69,000 as amicable settlement for their 13th month and separation pay. The settlement was arrived at after the nine workers requested the DOLE for assistance to collect the said benefits. The DOLE, after receiving the request for assistance convened a conciliation-mediation conference between the two parties during which the issue was satisfactorily settled.

“Ma-resolve man dayon ang among kaso, 1 to 2 days lang, dili jud magdugay. (Our cases were quickly resolved within 1 to 2 days only and there wasn’t a delay.),” Ms. Pandili said.

Meanwhile, Julieto Magayon and Gilbert Dolera, mechanic and driver, respectively, have expressed satisfaction over the result of the DOLE’s settlement of their request for assistance using the SEnA.

The two workers, formerly employed by Asian Hyatt Corporation, a Davao City-based taxi company, were separated from their job on last January without receiving their separation pay and social welfare benefits. They have worked in the company for two years.

On 23 April 2012, Magayon and Dolera filed a complaint of illegal dismissal against the establishment with the DOLE Davao City Field Office. Supervising labor and employment officer Ma. Cecilia A. Gravino, the SEADO who handled the case, informed the company of the complaint and directed it to come for a conference on 10 May.

During the conciliation-mediation, Tina Antonio, Asian Hyatt Corporation president, disclosed that the company was dissolved after experiencing losses and informed Gravino that the company’s three units of taxicabs left are not in good running condition anymore, hence the decision to separate the two workers from their jobs. She negotiated and bargained to reduce the amount due the two workers.

Both parties agreed to settle in the amount of P13,000 broken down as follows: P10,000 for Julieto Magayon and P3,000 for Gilbert Dolera.

“Maayo ang officer makipag-usap sa mga nagreklamo. Nagpasalamat ko sa SEnA officer kay nasulbad akong problema. (The SEnA Officer was good and well versed in dealing with her clients. I thank her for resolving my problem.),” Ms. Antonio said.

On their part, Magayon and Dolera said the process was quick and timely. “Ako nalang ni gidawat gumikan sa kaluoy, mas ok gihapon ang nahitabo kay na-settle dayun ang kaso.” ( We accepted this because of pity to the company, but it was even better because the case was settled in no time.),” they said.