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(Metro Manila, Philippines) A group of inspectors at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in NCR assembled for an orientation on Technical and Advisory Visit (TAV) implementation, following a DOLE order signed by Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma.

Director Alvin B. Curada of the DOLE Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) led the orientation on Department Order (DO) No. 238-2023 or the “Rules on the Administration and Enforcement of Labor Standards Pursuant to Article 128 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as Renumbered, and Republic Act No. 11058” as issued on April 12, 2023.

The activity aims to familiarize the Labor Inspectors (LI) and Assistant Labor Inspectors (ALI) of their new general assignment, mainly providing TAV to micro establishments on the General Labor Standards (GLS), Occupational Safety & Health Standards (OSHS), and other social legislations, which will ultimately ensure continuity and sustainability of compliance in all workplaces.

72 labor inspectors at DOLE-NCR attends orientation on DOLE Department Order No. 238, Series of 2023 at the Swiss-Belhotel Blulane, Santa Cruz, Manila on April 25, 2023.

DOLE-NCR Regional Director Atty. Sarah Buena S. Mirasol opened the morning session and recalled the recognitions received by the office last Labor Inspection Summit.

With the bar set higher this time, Atty. Mirasol reiterated Secretary Laguesma’s announcement on the new labor inspection strategy to strengthen DOLE’s inspection program, hence the seminar on DO 238.

Ms. Euniz Johanne M. Garcia-Biugil, BWC’s Information Systems Analyst II, also briefly discussed TAV’s system process flow, starting from preparation of the list of micro establishments and invitation to preparation of action plan for establishments with compliance gaps. Also discussed was the TAV portal where micro establishments will access, register, and train prior to the actual orientation to be conducted by the LIs or ALIs.

Currently, the regional office’s target that are subject to TAV will cover 22,078 micro establishments in Metro Manila.

In the afternoon session, the participants were tasked to present their own TAV strategies and how to implement them.

After the presentation, the DOLE-NCR inspectors learned how they could help micro establishments become knowledgeable of OSH and improve overall workplace experience.

Atty. Mirasol also awarded certificates of recognition to 2022 Bar Exam passers Atty. Adriano N. Catalig Jr., Atty. Nicandro V. Santos Estella, Atty. Kevin G. Perez, and Atty. Jonathan A. Lardino after the orientation.

END / Esteban D. Chua Jr. with report and photos from Iris Iera Espeña