Manila – The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) spearheaded the DOLE 4th Meeting of the Inter-Agency Committee on the Green Jobs Human Resource Development (HRD) Plan last April 11 at the ILS’s iLearn Conference Room in Intramuros, Manila.
The meeting, presided by DOLE Assistant Secretary Alex V. Avila, was attended by representatives from member agencies such as the Department of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulations Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Agriculture.
The event was a follow-up to the successful DOLE Green Jobs Conference held last year, and was meant to review the policy framework and objectives of the Green Jobs Act, notably to identify needed skills develop training programs, train and certify workers for green jobs. Likewise, the current legislation seeks to provide incentives to qualified business enterprises.
The draft National Green Jobs HRD Plan Outline was also circulated to the 20 NGAs + 7 DOLE agencies for comments, inputs, and/or suggestions for improvement. The draft consists of specific plans and commitments of key stakeholders to “go green” in terms of programs and projects, budget, institutional mechanism for implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
These plans are based on information and quick assessment of policy and implementation challenges for green adoption; readiness of stakeholders consulted to go green; and current initiatives that the government and its social partners can build upon. In addition, mandates of respective members agencies were also reviewed.
The Committee agreed to schedule a high-level meeting on Green Jobs involving senior officials of the member agencies. The members were also informed that Green Jobs will be tackled during the 38th Cabinet Assistance System meeting.
The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) is the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment. For more information on this story, please contact the Advocacy and Publications Division at 527-3490.