ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 trained new desk officers to help in the implementation of the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program last March 23-25, 2022 at the Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City.

“We just completed the basic training of 43 employees and enhanced the capabilities of 14 existing SEADOs or Single Entry Assistance Desk Officers in the region through creative facilitation techniques from our pool of trainers,” said Atty. Roy L. Buenafe, DOLE 9 Regional Director.

The Single Entry Approach (SEnA) is an administrative approach to provide a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible settlement procedure of all labor issues or conflicts to prevent them from ripening into full-blown disputes or actual labor cases.

“The program’s main objective is to effect amicable settlement of disputes among an employee and employer within 30 days. As desk officers, they are tasked to assist both parties by giving advice, or offering solutions and alternatives to the problems.

With this training program, the participants were taught the program’s implementing rules and regulations, general labor standards and techniques on how to effectively conciliate and mediate between parties,” Atty. Buenafe added.

DOLE 9 closely coordinated with the National Mediation Conciliation Board (NCMB) 9 to organize the 3-day training.

The pool of resource speakers was composed of Hon. Atty. Verna Kate B. Santos, Judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Family Court of Isabela City, Atty. Juevanrey Narisma Mediator-Arbiter of the Bureau of Labor Relations, Director Aerrine Reyes of NCMB Region 11, Director Hacelfeo Cuares of NCMB 9 and Engr. Wesley D. Tan, Chief LEO of DOLE 9.

In 2022 alone, the program has already helped 6,472 workers and employers nationwide with monetary benefits amounting to PHP 352,894,696.85.

Labor dispute issues such as termination or suspension of employment issues, money claims, union issues after exhaustion of administrative remedies, unfair labor practices, closures, retrenchments, redundancies, temporary lay-offs, OFW cases; and any other claims or issues arising from employer-employee relationship may be settled through the SEnA.

“With the quality training provided to new desk officers, we assure you that more clients will benefit from the program,”Atty. Buenafe concluded.