CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- Seventy kasambahays, or domestic helpers, benefitted from free medical, wellness, and skills demonstration services during the celebration of Araw ng Kasambay led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 on January 28, at SM City Uptown.

“Ang atong mga kasambahay sila ang gahimo sa mga trabaho nga dili nato gakahimo kay naa kita sa trabaho [Our kasambahays are doing things we cannot do while we are at work]," DOLE-10 Assistant Regional Director Russel A. Jallorina said, adding that kasambahays should be treated as members of the family. 

The event is anchored on Republic Act No. 10361, or the Batas Kasambahay, in partnership with CDO’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which educated and empowered the kasambahays with additional skills for career development.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA)-10 Technical-Vocational Institutes facilitated the skills demonstration on nugget making and table skirting, while DOLE-10’s Accredited Co-Partner Team Amega provided free hair and make-up services, hair cutting by J Arts Skills and Assessment Center, and massage by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP).

In support are the PagIBIG Fund, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, the Occupational Safety and Health Center, the Employees Compensation Commission, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for queries, and the Philippine National Police, which gave free vitamins, medicines, and flu vaccines. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)