OSHC Branch Office in Cebu City Formally Opens! 

      The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment with headquarters in Quezon City, is extending its services in the Visayas Regions through the establishment of its Branch office in Cebu City. 

      Labor Undersecretary Lourdes M. Trasmonte led the formal opening of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) satellite office in Cebu City on July 25, 2008. Rev. Father Eduardo Ventic, of Saint Joseph’s Academy and officer of the Labor Tripartite Council in Education in Region VII, conducted the blessing of the OSHC office. Among those present to witness the occasion were Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo P. Fortuna, Comm. Vladimir Tupaz, OSHC Board Member, Mr. Clarito Fruelta, Vice President of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ferdinand Jumapao of ALU TUCP, DOLE Regional Directors for the Visayas and Mindanao, other DOLE officials, partners and stakeholders. 

      In her welcome remarks, Executive Director Dulce Estrella-Gust pointed out that the OSHC promotes accessibility to preventive safety and health programs in workplaces through its flagship program, the Zero Accident Program (ZAP). The new Branch office in the Visayas would further strengthen collaboration between the OSHC and its regional partners through research, training, technical services, information dissemination and other activities. 

      Speaking on behalf of the Secretary of Labor, Usec. Trasmonte, in her keynote speech, made clear that OSH was a  high priority on DOLE’s agenda for economic and social developments as well as Decent Work for All. This commitment applied to all Filipino workers, whatever they do and wherever they work. The Zero Accident Program (or ZAP) served as the framework for setting and implementing regional priorities. She also informed the guests that a National Medium-Term OSH Plan for 2008-2010 had been developed in a series of consultations between the OSHC and the regional offices; this Plan is now being implemented under regional auspices. Institutional arrangements for technical support would be provided by the OSHC – Cebu to stakeholders in the region.  

      Also, initiatives were underway to provide trainings through Video Conferencing facilities  (VCF) available for some regions. OSH training will be given high priority to up-grade OSH skills of practitioners in the private and public sectors. The OSHC was offering a package of 25 courses, not only face-to-face training but also through distance learning.  

      Usec. Trasmonte was confident that steady progress would be made through strong multi-sectoral cooperation in such areas as prevention, compliance with occupational safety and health standards (OSHS); data collection, of compensation and rehabilitation as well as continuous updating of OSH and related policies.  

Messages from partners 

      Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna encouraged everybody to act as advocates of OSH because of  the importance of health and safety in all aspects of our lives. The opening of the OSHC Cebu office warmly welcomed not only by Cebu but by the entire Visayas. He promised to promote among other local government units a drive towards preventive occupational safety and health, not only in the growing industrial sectors but most also among the countless establishments in the informal sector. 

      Commissioner Vladimir Tupaz complimented the timely opening of the OSHC Branch Office in Cebu following the very successful  First Occupational Safety and Health Summit in the Visayas in October of 2007. As a dynamic city, Cebu should promote tripartite cooperation among government, employers’ and workers’ organizations for the prevention of accidents and illnesses through sustainable occupational safety and health programs. He further emphasized the need of  striking a balance between productivity and humane working conditions for the benefit of all firms and their employees. 

      Representing the employers, Mr. Clarito Fruelda of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), focused in his speech on OSH in times of globalization. He noted that  globalization had created more and new challenges for workers and employers. To go with these changes, the updating of Occupational Safety and Health Standards and related policies should therefore be given high priority. The establishment of a Branch office in Cebu reflected the commitment of the OSHC to respond squarely to the major concerns of stakeholders in the region. The OSHC Cebu Branch Office would be a vital extension of the DOLE in preventing occupational hazards, injuries, deaths in fast expanding and dynamic region. 

      Mr. Ferdinand Jumapao of the ALU-TUCP, commended the OSHC for the positive move of making OSH services more accessible to workers in the region. Observing an increase in work-related accidents and illnesses, he emphasized the special role of the trade unions in organizing and representing workers’ interest as far as safe work practices were concerned. He assured the OSHC that ALU-TUCP remained firm in its commitment to strengthen partnerships for implementing effective preventive OSH policies, programs and practices. 

Follow-up  Activities 

      In conjunction with the launching of the OSHC Cebu Branch Office, several activities were conducted in Cebu City. This included Learning Sessions on such topics as Developing Occupational Safety and Health Services; Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment; Industrial Hygiene and Work Accident Investigation. Moreover, technical services like Work Environment Measurement and safety audits as well as research activities were being scheduled for implementation in Region VII during the remainder of  the year.

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