Central Visayas Workers Awarded PHP29.1 Million in Claims Through DOLE SEnA Desk
Cebu City – Over PHP29.1 million in monetary claims have been awarded to more than 1,000 workers in Central Visayas who sought assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Single-Entry Approach (SEnA) desk, an official reported on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, director of DOLE 7 (Central Visayas), the regional office and its field offices successfully addressed 1,241 requests for assistance from January to June this year, marking a significant achievement for the DOLE-7 SEnA Unit. The Tri-City Field Office, which covers the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, assisted 571 workers, who collectively received PHP16.7 million in claims. Additionally, in Cebu province, 280 workers benefited from PHP7.5 million in claims, while 115 workers from Negros Oriental were awarded PHP3.5 million in settlements.
Further breakdowns reveal that about 75 workers in Bohol benefited from PHP943,000 in claims, and in Siquijor, 31 workers received over PHP500,000 through SEnA intervention. “DOLE commits to resolve disputes involving labor and management through compulsory arbitration and alternative modes of dispute resolution, such as the SEnA,” Estillore stated.
Estillore explained that if a request for SEnA assistance is not settled within 30 days, the case would be referred either to the National Labor Relations Commission Regional Arbitration Branch, DOLE’s inspection, or voluntary arbitration. She added, “With the increasing number of people making use of the SEnA to address their work-related concerns, it means that public awareness about the program is improving.”
The SEnA program was institutionalized under Republic Act 10396 on March 14, 2013, and further supported by DOLE’s issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations through Department Order 151 series of 2016. This program continues to serve as a vital tool for workers in the region, ensuring they receive timely resolutions to their employment disputes.