ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 6, 2022 – “Laro ng Lahi” or Filipino traditional games stole the show during the Labor Day Celebration in Goodyear, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay on May 5, 2022.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office partnered with the provincial Federation of Family Welfare Committees to stage the said celebration.
Atty. Roy L. Buenafe, DOLE 9 Regional Director, said that the fun-filled activities form part of the Labor Day Celebration which aims to honor the contributions of working men and women.
“These engagements foster camaraderie and promote social interaction between stakeholders. This also allows participants to perform physical and mental activities that can be beneficial for their overall well-being,” Atty. Buenafe further shared.
Joining the festivity were at least 200 individuals from various Agrarian Reform Cooperatives (ARCs) partners; Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO), Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries of Marcelo Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ARBEMMCO), Timbabauan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (TIMARBENCO), Tambanan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TARBEMCO) and other FWP members; M. Simon Hospital, Metro Ipil Centrum, Megalights Enterprise, MJ Mari Construction and Enterprise, and Philippine Pioneer Rubber Products Corporation (PPRPC).
The celebration kick-started with Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III’s Labor Day message underscoring the contribution of the Filipino workforce to economic recovery in the midst of the pandemic.
One of the highlights was the turn-over of livelihood assistance check in the amount of Php 1,023, 400 to GARBEMCO for its agri-tourism project. DOLE ZSFO Chief Elamsalih Ungad handed the check to the coop’s general manager, Lilia Manuel.
Participants competed in various traditional games such as karang race, sack race, takyan, palo sebo, tumbang preso and contemporary games like Pinoy Henyo and swimming.
GARBEMCO was hailed as the overall champion receiving 5,000 pesos. Champion Commercial and Megalights Enterprise came in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Non-winning teams received 1,000 pesos as consolation prizes.
Participating cooperatives/establishments have instilled the dimensions of DOLE’s Family Welfare Program (FWP). The FWP is an advocacy program that draws corporate support in promoting workers’ quality of life by adopting a family-centered approach in the workplace.
It introduces the concept of family welfare to establishments, instills family planning/family welfare consciousness among labor and management as a key in promoting workplace productivity and improved worker-management relations.
“As such, activities like this can serve as a benchmark to establishments on how to execute the cooperative, sport and leisure dimensions of the FWP in promoting workers’ welfare,” Atty. Buenafe concluded. END