CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) --The full-cycle assistance being piloted by the Department of Labor and Employment for informal sector workers in Intramuros will be replicated in other tourist destinations in the country, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said.
The project, which was rolled out to assist ‘padyak drivers’ or tricycle drivers in Intramuros, with funding of over P1 million, aims to equip the informal sector workers with enhanced skills and provide livelihood programs for long-term financial independence.
The total assistance package includes service quality improvement training, training as tour guides, pedicab equipment rehabilitation, self-improvement package, such as provision of shoes and shirts, good grooming, and even medical and dental services benefiting 120 pedicab drivers who were trained to act as tour guides in the Walled City.
Laguesma said the Department is set to expand the project’s implementation with the addition of more Intramuros ‘padyak drivers’ as beneficiaries and its replication in other tourism areas.
“Because charity begins at home, we started to help the community within the Intramuros area. We have an initial batch of 120 ‘padyak drivers’, but there will be more. We are also gearing for the implementation of this initiative across the regions,” Laguesma said during the medical mission and wellness program for the ‘padyak drivers’ at the DOLE Central Office on December 6.
“Even the Tourism Secretary requested for the project to be replicated in Western and Central Visayas, which are also known tourism destinations,” said the labor chief, adding that the project is also set to be implemented in Baguio City, particularly benefitting the horseback riding stable and its guides in Wright Park.
During the medical mission, volunteer doctors and allied professionals from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and skilled personnel from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided free services, such as medical consultation, blood testing, tooth extraction, dental cleaning, eye check-up, haircut, and massage. TESDA also offered a free demonstration on haircut and massage as additional skills training to the ‘padyak drivers’.
Laguesma thanked the volunteers from TESDA, PRC, Board of Medicine, Board of Optometry, Board of Dentistry, Philippine Pharmacists Association, Community Pharmacists Association of the Philippines (CPAP), Quezon City East Metro (QCEM) Chapter – Philippine Pharmacists Association Inc., Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc. (PAMET), Sysmex Philippines, Inc., Philippine Dental Association, Philippine Dental Hygienist’s Association, Urban Smile, Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists, and Manila Social Welfare (MSW). He likewise acknowledged donors of medicines, including Southstar Drug, Mercury Drug, Unilab, Vitalife, and ATC.
“We are overflowing with joy because the Department was able to enhance the livelihood of our ‘padyak drivers’. And this is a challenge for us because we will be cascading this project to other local government units and barangays,” the labor chief said as he acknowledged the important role of the Intramuros Administration and the Barangay Captains in identifying qualified beneficiaries of the project’s initial implementation.
The medical mission and wellness services are part of the week-long celebration of the DOLE’s 89th founding anniversary, with the theme, DOLE@89: Kahapon, Ngayon at sa Habang Panahon, Kaagapay ng Bayan sa Pagbangon. (dole/pia-ncr)
