MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)--The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-X) Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO) recently settled a Request for Assistance (RFA) thru Single Entry Approach (SEnA) program for two workers amounting to PhP 3,732,170.44 worth of retirement claims on June 26 and 30 at the DOLE-X Buk PFO, this province.
The two retirees visited Buk PFO and requested assistance on June 19 and 26 to file for their retirement claims which are due them. The requesting parties were leadmen workers assigned to Bukidnon II Electric Cooperative Inc., the prime electricity provider in Bukidnon.
Since the responding party agreed to pay off the requesting party's monetary claims, the two retiree workers claimed the sum released during the conference.
Dany Dacer, 54, filed his RFA on 19 June 2023, and received P1,358,464.12 on June 26, a few days after his RFA filing. Dacer shared that he worked for 22 years at the electric company and decided to retire to be with his family.
Allan Gumaling, a 60-year-old retiree from Malaybalay City, said he filed his RFA on June 26, 2023, and received a total amount of P2,373,706.32 as his retirement pay on June 30, 2023.
“Nalipay gyud ko pag-ayo kay sa kataas sa akong serbisyo, naa gyud koy madawatan. (After all the services I rendered, I can finally receive my hard-earned money)," he said sharing his joy.
Gumaling, who worked for the company for 29 years as a leadman, said he would spend the money to repair their house and for his family's needs. He decided to retire and spend his time with his family. He also thanked his employer for the fast action on his request.
“Daghang salamat sa BUSECO, salamat usab sa oportunidad nga maka trabaho ko sa inyong kompanya sa taas nga panahon. (I am grateful to BUSECO, for the opportunity to work in your company for a long period of time)," he added.
In June 2023, DOLE Buk-PFO received eleven RFAs for final pay, underpayment of minimum wage, and illegal dismissal. Out of eleven RFAs, ten were settled. They received a total of P4,398,540.82 as monetary claims.
Buk PFO Chief Raul L. Valmores said that any aggrieved worker, union, group of workers, or employer may request assistance at the DOLE office where the employer principally operates.
"The SEnA was formulated as the existing labor dispute settlement mechanism in the organization with its attached agencies”, Valmores added.
In the case of a union or federation representing a local chapter, requests shall be filed at the regional/provincial/district office where the union or local chapter is registered.
Through the years, DOLE upheld employees' rights, promoted their welfare, and preserved industrial peace. Its mission is to promote gainful employment opportunities and provide assistance and appropriate solutions to various labor issues.
SEnA is an administrative approach to providing a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible settlement procedure for all labor or employment issues to prevent them from ripening into full-blown disputes or actual labor cases.
A Single-Entry Assistance Desk Officer (SEADO) assists the SENA in the conciliation and mediation of labor disputes.
For any SEnA concern, complainants can go to the nearest DOLE office or file online at https://sena.dole.gov.ph. (MAJC/with reports from KCP/DOLE-X/Bukidnon PFO/PIA 10/Bukidnon)
