The local Department of Labor and Employment cannot intervene and resolve for now the delayed release of wages for workers under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), a department official said.

According to Gerry Guidaben, DOLE Bohol officer-in-charge, they cannot go against established policies of the department as he blamed the delay to the lengthy process in the release of wages which could take up to a month.

Guidaben said that the local labor office has not received the funds allotted for the payment of workers under the DILEEP which encompasses other initiatives including the Government Internship Program, Special Program for Employment of Students and the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers program.

He noted that the processing of wages is being done in Cebu while the funds are also in the neighbor province.

The official, however, also attributed the delay to workers who are late in submitting their daily time record or DTR which is being used as basis in the payment of employees.

Previously, several workers aired their complaints through station DYRD noting that they still have not received their wages despite having ended their services to the government.

This has prompted Guidaben to submit a proposal which requested to have the processing of wages moved to DOLE Bohol’s office to avoid delays.

The local DOLE official said that he is already awaiting response from the national government regarding the suggestion which he relayed to Presidential Assistant for Visayas Michael Dino.

Guidaben is optimistic that the change in the system would allow the DOLE office to release wages for workers under government employment programs in time. (Allen Doydora)

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