ZAMBOANGA CITY – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe led the induction of Raul M. Regondola, Chairperson and Administrator of Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport as a regular member of the DOLE Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) 9 during a special meeting held today at the DOLE 9 Office in Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City.Atty. Buenafe said that the DOLE RCC aims to unify its attached agencies and serve as an avenue for convergence in pursuing respective mandates through opportunities for dialogue, complementation of programs and services, and problem solving between member-agencies.

The ZAMBOECOZONE will join the RCC during its quarterly meetings alongside DOLE’s family of agencies composed of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) , National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), National Conciliation-Mediation Board (NCMB), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) and Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).

It can be noted in recent years that DOLE 9 and ZAMBOECOZONE’s cooperation and partnership has strengthened with joint undertakings such as the Labor Day Celebration, conduct of job fairs thru its PESO, Project Helping Others Prosper Economically (HOPE) among others.

“The RCC is a valuable organization wherein we come together as one family in hopes of strengthening our programs and services. This is a consultative body where we bring forward our concerns to elicit support or help from other agencies, for deepening of discussions with information shared and to make our customers feel that this is the DOLE family – we help, support and lift each other up in the name of public service,” said Ms. Imelda F. Gatinao, DOLE Assistant Regional Director and presiding officer of the special meeting.

In his privilege speech, Chairperson Regondola thanked the DOLE RCC: “Thank you so much for this opportunity. It is a pleasure to work with you.”

Chair Regondola shared with the body about ECOZONE’s current projects and plans which will focus on generating more employment opportunities for Zamboangueños.

Members of the RCC warmly welcomed Chairperson Regondola to the RCC and expressed their full support and commitment in the committee’s goals and undertakings. ###Karen Grafia