Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured the public on Thursday morning, July 16 that the Palace will ask the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to help laid-off ABS-CBN employees.
Roque said that he will personally contact labor secretary Silvestre Bello III to open a one-stop shop at the ABS-CBN compound where laid-off employees can seek assistance.
“Rather than sila ang pupunta sa mga government agency, I will suggest magpadala na lang ng one-stop shop,” said Roque in an interview with CNN Philippines.
He also assured that laid-off employees can avail of programs and loans offered by the government such as TUPAD by DOLE and livelihood loans offered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“Lahat po ’yan can be availed of the employees of ABS-CBN. Lahat po ng benefits that an ordinary Filipino can avail when they lose their jobs, they can also avail,” Roque added.
ABS-CBN to retrench due to franchise denial
The media outfit released a statement on Wednesday, July 15 saying that it will implement a retrenchment program by the end of August. ABS-CBN will give out separation and retirement benefits and help in providing job placement programs.
“As much as it hurts us to implement this retrenchment program, this is the only way to ensure the continued employment of the rest of our Kapamilya,” read the statement.
[READ: After nonrenewal of franchise, ABS-CBN will lay off workers by end of August]
Roque claims he is ‘Kapamilya’
“Masakit din po sa akin ang nangyari sa ABS-CBN. Hindi naman po sikreto na Kapamilya rin ako. Nakilala po ako dahil sa ABS-CBN so malaki po ang utang na loob ko sa ABS-CBN,” Roque announced in a press briefing on July 13.
And in his interview with CNN Philippines, he reiterated once again that he owed what he is now to ABS-CBN and even tried to talk with the president about the issue.
“Yes, and I don’t hide that [talking with the President]. I knew that ABS-CBN has the biggest reach in terms of broadcast capacity and I knew that they were crucial to any dissemination activity,” said Roque. But President Duterte said the best they can do was to remain neutral.
“I don’t think they can find a stronger ABS-CBN supporter within the administration other than me,” he added.
Header photo courtesy of Inquirer
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Writer: KLEO CATIENZA
