Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio said the MOU aims to aid job seekers, especially the displaced, underemployed, seasonal workers as well as those in need of free legal assistance.
PAO chief Persida Acosta said PAO lawyers will be assigned to OVP satellite offices to help those in need of legal assistance, especially those in far-flung areas and those who are incapable of paying for legal services.
The DOLE said job seekers may be referred to their Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) Program, which offers jobs to displaced workers while waiting for permanent employment.
“This is just the beginning of establishing substantive and meaningful partnerships with government institutions. We hope to expand such partnerships for the benefit of our people,” Duterte said.
The OVP earlier established her satellite offices in various regions such as Dagupan (Ilocos Region), Cebu (Central Visayas), Tacloban (Eastern Visayas), Zamboanga (Zamboanga Peninsula), Davao (Davao Region), and Tandag in Surigao del Sur (Caraga) to provide easier access to individuals seeking their assistance.
Duterte said they are continuously working to establish more satellite offices.
“From one to three satellite offices, i-assess lang namin iyong budget namin, paano niya ma-accommodate iyong additional na one to three satellite offices. Kung ilan talaga we’ll end up with, depende sa assessment namin,” Dutere said.
(From one to three satellite offices, we will assess our budget, how can he accommodate the additional one to three satellite offices. How many we’ll end up with depends on our assessment.)
“As an example, sa ngayon, iyong Dagupan office gets clients as far as Isabela. Pumupunta sila doon, nagha-hire sila ng jeep. Bumabyahe sila papuntang Dagupan. Yesterday, there was a meeting with satellite managers and there was a discussion na dapat maglagay ng satellite office sa eastern side ng Luzon,” she added.
(As an example, right now, your Dagupan office gets clients as far as Isabela. They go there, they hire a jeep. They travel to Dagupan. Yesterday, there was a meeting with satellite managers and there was a discussion that a satellite office should be placed on the eastern side of Luzon.) (SunStar Philippines)