Employees of the Ministry of Labor and Employment have undergone basic training for Single Entry Assistance Desk Officers (SEADO) held simultaneously on April 16-18, 2024, in Koronadal City and Zamboanga City.
This three-day basic training aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively handle labor disputes and concerns filed before the ministry.
Specifically, the goal is to enhance the skills and empower SEADOs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, enabling them to offer an accessible, speedy, fair, and cost-effective resolution process for issues arising from employee-employer relationship by providing a mandatory 30-day conciliation-mediation services.
Labor Minister Muslimin G. Sema, as he emphasized the ministry’s commitment to industrial peace and harmonious conflict resolution within the workplace, was certain that these aspiring SEADOs will provide quality assistance to workers.
“As the Minister of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, I can firmly say that I am confident with my team; they may encounter some challenges but I strongly believe that they are doing their best as they can to help the Bangsamoro constituents by giving quality assistance to the workers through conciliation and mediation,” Sema said.
Regional Directors Joel M. Gonzales of DOLE XII and Albert E. Gutib of DOLE IX, on the other hand, were also present during the simultaneous training. They both emphasized that this capacity building, committed to imparting knowledge, skills, and attitudes in handling labor and employment issues under the Single Entry Approach (SEnA), is part of the previous agreements and coordination between the two agencies.
The newly trained personnel are set to play a vital role within the SEnA program. Following the completion of their training and assessment, they will be designated as SEADOs by the labor minister. This designation will signify their readiness to take on the responsibilities associated with facilitating dispute resolution under the Single-Entry Approach.
Other key officials who were present and imparted knowledge during the simultaneous basic training were Dir. Oliver C. Jao, Regional Branch Director of RCMB IX; Hon. Lizanilla J. Amarga, Executive Labor Arbiter of NLRC-RAB 9; Imelda F. Ganitao, Assistant Regional Director of DOLE IX; Jemeia Mae E. De Eyoy, Supervising LEO of NCMB XII; Engr. Bobby Carrasco, OIC Head of DOLE XII-SCFO; Atty. Ma. Lourdes Romelli D. Juliano, Labor Arbiter of NLRC XII; Christelyn R. Caceres, OIC-Regional Director of OWWA XII; Atty. Jasmin M. Galvan, Mediator-Arbiter of DOLE XII; Rene A. Sabornido, OIC-Regional Branch Director of NCMB XII; and Gerie D. Lampitco, Regional Branch Director of NCMB XII.
As DOLE and MOLE expand their partnership programs, this proactive collaboration on SEnA is expected to further contribute to a stable labor sector in BARMM, providing a streamlined process for dispute resolution and bolstering labor relations across the region.