Photo Credit to DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay
DOLE PROVIDES TEMPORARY JOBS TO 250 FARMERS, FISHERFOLK IN ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY — Short-term employment assistance was extended to 250 residents of Zamboanga Sibugay as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) implemented community-based projects aimed at providing immediate income while strengthening local livelihood and environmental initiatives.
The beneficiaries, composed of farmers, rubber tappers and fisherfolk, participated in various activities in Roseller T. Lim, Titay, Ipil, Tungawan and Naga under the department’s Emergency Employment Program.
From August 25 to 28, 2026, personnel of the DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (DOLE-ZSFO) went to the different project locations to verify the implementation of the activities and confirm the actual participation of workers.
The employment component was carried out alongside programs of government partner agencies, allowing beneficiaries to earn while working on projects directly connected to agriculture, fisheries, rubber production and environmental protection.
Farmers covered by the partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were engaged in Project LAWA at BINHI, where they worked on sites intended for cash-crop cultivation and helped establish fishponds. The project provides workers with temporary wages while creating potential sources of food and livelihood for participating households.
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In areas where rubber production remains an important source of income, workers assisted the Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI) in nursery operations. Their tasks included preparing seedlings and other planting materials that can eventually be used to support rubber-growing communities.
Fisherfolk, meanwhile, took part in mangrove planting activities coordinated with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The work not only provides temporary employment but also contributes to the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems that serve as natural habitat for fish and other marine organisms.
The duration of employment depends on the approved work program for each group, with beneficiaries assigned either 20 or 45 days of work. Qualified workers receive ₱464 per validated workday, consistent with the applicable minimum wage in Region IX.
For beneficiaries whose regular income depends largely on seasonal farming, fishing or other unstable livelihood sources, the temporary jobs provide an opportunity to earn while remaining engaged in productive activities within their own communities.
DOLE's field verification also serves to ensure that public funds intended for workers are properly accounted for. During the visits, personnel checked attendance records, confirmed that beneficiaries were present and performing their assigned tasks, and assessed compliance with the approved work plans and relevant TUPAD requirements.
The verification is conducted before payroll processing to ensure that workers are compensated only for days that have been properly documented and validated. It also provides DOLE and its partners an opportunity to correct discrepancies or complete missing requirements before wages are released.
The employment initiative is part of the national government's continuing efforts to provide temporary livelihood support to workers while implementing projects with community and economic benefits under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The program is being implemented nationwide under the leadership of DOLE Secretary Francis N. Tolentino. In Western Mindanao, Regional Director Albert E. Gutib oversees implementation in Region IX, while Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Director Marlyn M. Anoos supervises the program's implementation and the processing of beneficiaries' payments in the province.
Following the recent field assessment, DOLE-ZSFO will consolidate the validation results and coordinate with DSWD, PRRI, BFAR, participating local governments and other concerned partners to address any remaining requirements.
Once all workdays and supporting documents have been verified, the beneficiaries' claims will undergo payroll preparation and processing before the corresponding wages are released.
DOLE-ZSFO said it will continue monitoring the implementation and coordinating with its partner agencies to ensure that qualified workers receive the compensation due to them based on their actual and validated participation.
