WHEREAS, the effects of the current global crisis are now felt by the country ™s economy, particularly in terms of company slowdowns and closures affecting workers;

WHEREAS, despite the overall resilience of the economy and the willingness of employers to help the affected workers, greater concerted efforts by and between the government and the private sector are necessary to prevent the deepening of the crisis and to quicken recovery;

WHEREAS, the government must exhibit strong leadership and inspire confidence by contributing to job security of workers and shore up the capacity of the private sector to support this national effort.

NOW THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the concerned agencies and instrumentalities of the government to implement the following:

1) Allocate and utilize one and a half percent (1.5%) of their Budget for Operating Expenses for temporary hiring of qualified Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) registered displaced workers and their dependents.

2) Campaign to encourage buoyant industries and companies under their supervision to hire on temporary or fixed, short-term basis DOLE registered displaced workers and their dependents.

3) Authorize the temporary filling-up of vacant plantilla positions in agencies whose approval of Rationalization Plans are pending at the Department of Budget and Management.

All agencies shall report to the Department of Labor and Employment the jobs that will be created pursuant to this Directive.

Adopted: 10 Feb. 2009

(SGD.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
President of the Philippines   

BY THE PRESIDENT:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary