Recently, eight (8) Rizal-based workers’ associations joined the Department of Labor and Employment-Rizal Provincial Office’s (DOLE-RPO) learning session under Workers’ Organization Development Program (WODP).
In collaboration with the Department of Agrarian Reform-Rizal Provincial Office (DAR-Rizal), DOLE-Rizal got an opportunity to discuss labor-related concepts that could be beneficial to the members of workers associations in the agricultural sector.
Among the present associations are Cacao Growers Association of Tanay, San Joseph Unified Consumers Cooperative, Better Pililla Women’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Organization of ARB Farmers of Inalsan, Inc., Sampaloc ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mapunso Upland Farmers’ Association, Inc., Plaza Aldea United Farmers’ Association, Inc. and Sipsipin Multi-Purpose Cooperative who also actively participated in the activity.
In his message, DOLE-RPO OIC-Provincial Head Engr. Joseph P. Gacosta encouraged the workers to apply their learnings from the training to their respective associations and to their communities.
“Sana po ay itong ating pagsasama-sama sa buong araw ay maging baon po ninyo sa pag-uwi— ang mga aral na mai-aapply ninyo sa samahan, sa inyong mga trabaho at sa inyong pamayanan,” Gacosta said.
In the first module, DOLE-RPO Livelihood Focal Person, Janine Rivera introduced the concept of Financial Management to the participants. As most of them are officers of their respective associations, Ms. Rivera highlighted the importance of having a knowledge of the basics of accounting and bookkeeping.
She also shared the techniques in devising financial statements, and drafting financial analysis that could help the associations to keep track of their finances.
Aside from financial literacy, DOLE-RPO also discussed the important facets of RA 9231 or the Anti-Child Labor Law. DOLE-RPO believes that it is important to include this law on the discussion considering that based on the “Working Children and Child Labor Situation Report” issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority last December 2021, 63.6% of child labor cases in the country last 2020 were found in the agricultural sector.
Flint Osric T. Gorospe, Labor, and Employment Officer I, gave an orientation to the participants, discussing the different kinds of assistance that the Department offers in contribution to the reduction and elimination of child labor cases in the country.
DOLE-RPO Labor Inspector Erwin Rommel C. De Jesus, on the other hand, introduced the concept of Mental Health by giving a national situationer to the participants. He emphasized the importance of formulating policies pertaining to protection of mental health of the members of their associations for it may affect the organization’s productivity.
Fun learning experience
To ensure that the participants fully grasped the content of the training, the speakers gave a series of exercises, quizzes, and even sought their opinion during the discussion.
For Ms. Soledad Bautista, a Public Relations Officer of Cacao Growers Association of Tanay, the WODP training will be very helpful for their organization as well as to the community that they live in. “Natuwa ako kasi ‘yang financial literacy, eh katulad ko wala akong alam sa accounting, so na-enlighten ako madali lang pala basta aaralin tsaka ‘yung child labor law at ‘yung mental health awareness malaking bagay sa ngayon, lalo na sa community na kinagagalawan natin,” Bautista expressed.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mary Grace Salcedo of Mapunso Upland Farmers’ Association. Inc. extended her gratitude to the Department for giving this kind of training for free.
“Thank you sa ganitong mga program na ginagawa ninyo para sa amin. [Dahil] hindi namin afford na magbayad para makaaattend kami [ng training] so, binibigay niyo sila sa amin ng libre,” Salcedo exclaimed.
WODP learning sessions are intended to upgrade the skills of workers organizations in the areas of leadership, organizational development and management, labor and human relations, grievance handling, labor laws, occupational safety and health, productivity, and the like.
Acknowledging women’s contribution in the business sector
In line with the celebration of National Women’s Month last March, Glynise Kaye M. Ijiran, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I of DAR-Rizal, shared during the activity Resolution No.1 issued by the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Council last year on December 29.
On the said resolution, the use of term “women-led business” must be adopted if the business is owned by at least 20% of women in the company, at least one woman acts as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President or Vice-President, and at least 30% of the board of directors is comprised of women.
In addition to this, the term “woman-owned business” must be used if at least 51% of the company is owned by a woman or women. These terms are based on the definition issued by the International Finance Corporation.
Since most of the participating associations in the training are women, Ijiran deemed it is necessary to share the resolution. She also encouraged them to use these terms to help them in establishing their businesses.
“Kasi ito pong mga term na ito ay kailangan din po nating gamitin sa profiling ng business natin kunyari kung isheshare niyo po ‘yung business niyo sa mga tao ilalagay niyo po kung business owned and women-led na business. Kasi doon na po papasok kung paano niyo po ipakita ‘yung business niyo kung reliable ba ‘to, magkakatiwalaan? Maganda ba ‘yung products nito?” Ijiran said.
by:
FLINT OSRIC T. GOROSPE
LEO I
CHARMAINE D. BAISA
LEO III
