DOLE ready to provide livelihood assistance to Davao blast victims

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday said it will provide livelihood assistance to victims of the explosion in Davao City last September 2.

Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III said the agency is now profiling the blast victims to determine the employment opportunities that could be made available to them.

“We could give grants to the masahistas [who were affected by the blast]. Baka gusto nilang mag-put up ng massage parlor, we could provide the initial capital,” he told lawmakers Wednesday during congressional hearings on DOLE’s proposed P13.3-billion budget for 2017.

“Yung mga nagbebenta ng barbecue sa night market, puwede rin naming bigyan ng negosyo carts,” he added.

The explosion at the Roxas night market on September 2 left 14 people dead and more than 70 people injured.

The incident has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of national emergency on account of the lawless violence in Mindanao.

In addition to livelihood assistance, Bello said DOLE is also considering providing scholarships to school age children of the blast victims.

The Labor Secretary said a P10,000 cash aid has been given to each families of the blast casualties. Wounded victims, meanwhile, received P5,000 each. —ALG, GMA News