The Ayala Group, through Brigadang Ayala, mobilized 150 volunteers across General Santos City and Sarangani to carry out relief assistance, psychosocial support, school safety assessments, and other recovery efforts. The response followed the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck oA the coast of Mindanao on June 8, devastating communities across Southern Mindanao.

Within 24 hours of the earthquake, Ayala Foundation deployed volunteers to distribute relief packs to families in Purok Balite, Barangay Lagao, General Santos City. The Foundation also conducted rapid assessments to identify priority needs in selected communities.

Ayala Foundation and the WeAreAyala Business Club (WAABC) Davao mobilized more volunteers on June 16 to support expanded relief and recovery operations in South Cotabato and Sarangani Province.

The ongoing Brigadang Ayala operations provided relief food packs to around 6,500 individuals in Barangay Ligaya, General Santos City and Barangay Kawas, Alabel,
Sarangani.

“Brigadang Ayala’s disaster response combines immediate relief with volunteerism, including skilled expertise — supporting LGUs together with local communities and partners to address urgent needs while helping lay the groundwork for recovery and resilience,” said Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation.

Volunteers also provided psychosocial support and community resilience initiatives designed to address the longer-term impacts of the disaster.

Through Project Aruga, a psychosocial intervention initiative for children in evacuation areas, volunteers from the Psychology Community of General Santos came together to support more than 100 children aAected by the earthquake. Volunteers ran activities designed to help children process their experiences, restore a sense of safety, and support their emotional well-being following the disaster.

The response mobilized volunteers from across the Ayala Group, including Alveo, Avida, Ayala Land, Ayala Land Premier, BPI, Globe and MDC.

For many volunteers, the effort was deeply personal. Queenie Miranda-Asensi, Human Resources Officer of MDC Mindanao and a native of General Santos City, joined the relief mission to support communities in her hometown.

“Volunteering for Brigadang Ayala reminds me that even small acts of service can make a big diAerence in people’s lives. Being able to help communities in my hometown during a difficult time made the experience even more meaningful,” she shared.

“We are grateful to every volunteer across the Ayala Group and every partner who showed up with care, compassion, and discipline. Our commitment is to keep working alongside affected communities in Mindanao, supporting them as they recover and rebuild with
dignity and hope,” said Paolo F. Borromeo, Ayala Corporation Chief Social Infrastructure Officer.

As communities continue to recover, Brigadang Ayala remains committed to working alongside local partners, volunteers, and affected families to support rebuilding eAfforts and strengthen community resilience. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – More than 1,400 transport workers across Eastern Visayas will receive temporary employment and wage assistance under the TUPAD Tuloy Pasada 2026 program launched by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.

The initiative, formally launched by DOLE Regional Office 8 and LTFRB Regional Office 8, seeks to provide immediate financial relief to drivers, conductors, mechanics, and other transport workers whose incomes have been affected by increasing fuel costs amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

A total of 1,474 beneficiaries from Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar have been identified to receive assistance under the program, with DOLE allocating more than P15 million for wages.

Speaking during the launching ceremony, DOLE Regional Director Dax Villaruel said the program demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting workers during periods of economic uncertainty.

“This is a program that represents government commitment to ensure that every worker is taken care of, especially in this time of economic uncertainty,” Villaruel said.

He added that the initiative aligns with the administration’s goal of delivering responsive, inclusive, and people-centered programs that directly address the needs of workers.

TUPAD Tuloy Pasada forms part of the government’s Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport interventions designed to support sectors most vulnerable to fuel price increases while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of public transportation services.

Under the program, each beneficiary will render six hours of work per day for 20 days and receive a daily wage of P470.

To distinguish participating vehicles, beneficiary-drivers will display tarpaulins bearing the “TUPAD Tuloy Pasada 2026” signage on the front of their units.

Officials said the program not only provides temporary income support but also helps sustain public transportation operations amid rising operating costs faced by transport workers.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment in Eastern Visayas (DOLE-8) conducted joint inspections of five construction sites in Tacloban City on June 15 and 16 as part of its intensified campaign to ensure compliance with labor laws and workplace safety regulations.

The inspections marked the resumption of the agency’s High Impact, High Visibility Inspection (HIHVI) program, which focuses on strengthening occupational safety and health standards in the construction sector.

Inspectors assessed compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) and General Labor Standards (GLS), including the proper use of personal protective equipment, implementation of safety and health programs, provision of welfare facilities, and payment of wages and statutory benefits.

Among the sites inspected was the ongoing construction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple in Tacloban City.

Villaruel said the initiative aims to ensure that construction companies and contractors comply with labor and safety regulations while protecting the welfare of workers.
He noted that the agency has prioritized inspections of vertical construction projects because of the large number of workers employed at such sites.

The activity was conducted in coordination with representatives from the Office of the Building Official, Bureau of Fire Protection, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, Occupational Safety and Health Center, Employees’ Compensation Commission, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Philippine Information Agency, and Philippine News Agency.

DOLE-8 said similar inspections will continue across Eastern Visayas throughout June as part of efforts to promote safe and compliant workplaces in the region.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog party-list reported significant legislative accomplishments during the first regular session of the 20th Congress, with 349 bills filed, 33 measures approved on third reading, two bicameral conference committee reports ratified, and three measures enacted into law.

Among the laws signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, the extension of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), and the measure authorizing the President to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products.

Tingog Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre said the party-list’s legislative output reflects its commitment to advancing measures that address the needs of Filipino families and communities.

The party-list also backed several priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), including bills on Last Mile Schools, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the Geriatric Health Act, the Blue Economy Act, and the expansion of tertiary education subsidies.

Education remained a key focus, with Congress ratifying bicameral conference committee reports on the proposed Last Mile Schools Act and amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Acidre, who chairs the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, also led the passage of measures aimed at strengthening state universities, local higher education institutions, and polytechnic colleges nationwide.

Tingog lawmakers said they will continue pursuing reforms aimed at improving access to education, social services, and economic opportunities for Filipinos.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)