Pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 3 of Section 9 of Republic Act No. 6982 (or the Sugar Amelioration Act of 1991), and upon the recommendation of the Sugar Tripartite Council (STC) as embodied in the approved STC Resolution No. 14, series of 2010, the following guidelines on the utilization of the Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P750,000.00) from the forfeited unclaimed and undistributed cash bonus fund (UCBF) collections in Region 4-A, for food assistance for the migratory sugar workers (MSWs) working in the sugarcane farms in Batangas, are hereby issued for the guidance and observance of all concerned:

1. The fund amounting to Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P750,000.00) shall represent as the DOLE approved funding allocation for food assistance for the MSWs working in the sugarcane farms in Batangas, itemized as follows:

 

Particulars Amount (P) Purchase of rice and other basic food commodities	700,000.00
Administrative Expenses	50,000.00

2. In view of its intent, the regular mode of release of project fund shall not be adopted; instead the fund shall be released to the DOLE-RO4A in full, who shall be responsible in the implementation of the said project.

3. Food in the form of rice and other basic food items shall be distributed directly to the hired MSWs by the DOLE-Regional Office No. 4A in coordination with the concerned planter or his duly authorized representative or contractor and other entities. The amount of food assistance per worker shall not exceed P500.00. The Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) shall provide assistance to the Regional Office as necessary.

4. The concerned planters or their duly authorized representatives or contractors shall submit to the DOLE-RO4A list of hired MSWs for the current sugar crop 2010-2011 (Form 1) as basis for the release of the food assistance.

5. DOLE RO4A shall coordinate with the concerned planters or their duly authorized representatives and contractors and other entities on the schedule of the distribution of food assistance.

6. The MSWs who are qualified shall be those workers coming from the provinces of Isabela in Region 2; Quezon in Region 4A; Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro in Region 4B; Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon in Region 5; Aklan, Capiz and Negros Occidental in Region 6; Ormoc and Samar in Region 8 and some parts of Mindanao, who were hired and transported to work in various sugarcane farms in Batangas.

7. The DOLE-RO4A shall submit to the Honorable Secretary of Labor and Employment through the BWSC a progress report on the project. Likewise, they shall submit the accomplished Food Assistance Sheet (Form 2) to document receipt of food assistance by the concerned MSWs, and other required financial/liquidation documents/reports within ten (10) working days after the completion of the food assistance distribution.

This Department Order shall take effect on the date of issuance.


Adopted: 24 January 2011


(SGD.)  ROSALINDA DIMAPILIS-BALDOZ
Secretary