CAGAYAN de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez appealed to increase the labor department’s budget of P1.5 billion in the appropriations for the agency’s proposed P25.28 billion for 2023 budget.
Earlier, Rodriguez expressed his dismay at the 2023 budget for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) during the hearing of the Committee on Appropriations last September 7, 2022.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) gave DOLE a P25.28 billion budget for 2023, slashing around P4 billion from their proposed P29.23 billion budget.
According to Rodriguez, the mandate of DOLE necessitates a bigger budget allocation in order to implement the programs and projects under the department that help Filipinos nationwide.
He urged the Congress to augment the agency’s budget to P1.5 billion, with P500 million each going to Sustainable Livelihood Programs (SLPs), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Government Internship Program (GIP).
Rodriguez likewise submitted a letter to Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma of DOLE asking for P40 million to fund livelihood, emergency employment, and internship programs in the City of Cagayan de Oro to help its citizens recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It can be noted that during the 4th term of Cong. Rufus (2019-2022), he was able to secure a total of P50.5 million which provided emergency employment and cash assistance to the residents of CdeO, especially during the height of the pandemic.
