With its vast tracts of land still open for development, the city government of Cabuyao, Laguna under Mayor Dennis “Denha” Hain is ready to put the city on the map as a major government center in the province.
This was evidenced by the recent groundbreaking ceremony for a new headquarters of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – Calabarzon in Cabuyao City last September 12.
The P250-million six-storey building to be located at the Cabuyao Civic Center in Barangay Banaybanay will represent a “level-up” for the regional office of DOLE, which currently resides at a private building in Calamba City.
The construction of the new headquarters of DOLE-IV-A meant that the agency can now expand its existing services and add new ones for the benefit of Calabarzon’s workers, according to officials.
“This [new building] is a significant development for us, along with the Department of Labor and Employment,” Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Jovel Mendoza said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is indeed progress and cooperation towards our shared group on promoting a better future for our workforce.”
Locals benefit
For Karlo Hain, head of the Cabuyao City Public Employment and Service Office (PESO), the new DOLE headquarters will not only cement the ambitions of the Hain administration for Cabuyao City to become a regional government hub but also enable workers in one of Laguna’s fastest-growing industrial hubs to avail themselves of DOLE’s services.
"Ang kagandahan po ng magiging bagong tanggapan ng DOLE sa Cabuyao City ay, dahil kumbaga kami po sa PESO ang 'malapit sa kusina,' we're expecting the regional branch to help us in our own programs for Cabuyeños," Hain explained in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
"Pangalawa po, dahil magiging very accessible na po ang DOLE sa atin, ay mas madali na po tayong makaka-comply sa mga requirements nila. Kunwari, kailangan pa natin ngayong dumayo sa regional office ng DOLE [sa Calamba City] para magpasa ng requirements, ngayon ay magiging kapitbahay na natin sila so mas mabilis na po ito," he added.
Multiplier effect
Another benefit Hain sees from the new DOLE headquarters is the “multiplier effect” the new office will bring to the city, in the form of new business establishments near the area that will be patronized by DOLE employees and clients alike.
To recall, promoting new businesses in Cabuyao City is also a major part of Mayor Dennis Hain’s push for inclusive socio-economic development in the city.
“Dahil nandito na ang regional office ng DOLE, we’re expecting na marami pang mga ahensya ng gobyerno and even private companies ang pupunta sa ating lungsod. It’s an opportunity for us: kapag dumadami ang tao, dumadami ang livelihood opportunities, at the same time, I think there is an opportunity for investment dito sa Cabuyao,” the PESO head explained.
One reason Karlo Hain sees a “multiplier effect” in the new DOLE headquarters is the fact that it is located at the Cabuyao Civic Center, a vast area in Barangay Banaybanay that has been targeted for development by the local government since Dennis Hain took over as city mayor in 2022.
The PESO head disclosed that the Cabuyao Civic Center has been slated as the site for the new Cabuyao City Hall, as well as other local government installations.
Programs for PWDs
In the meantime, Hain added, the city government of Cabuyao through his office is now expanding the scope of employment and livelihood opportunities for Cabuyeños.
One sector Hain is now planning to reach out to are persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their families, he explained.
“Ang target po ng ating mga programa ngayon ay hindi lang mga PWDs kundi pati na rin ang kanilang mga kamag-anak at mga bantay nila,” he noted.
“Ang napapansin po kasi namin, yung mga bantay ng ating mga PWD, hindi sila nagkakaroon ng tsansa na makapagtrabaho dahil nga ginugugol po nila ang kanilang panahon sa pag-aalaga sa kanilang mga kasamang may kapansanan. We are trying to find more accessible jobs for them, particularly the ‘work-from-home’ jobs na pwede nilang pasukan habang sila ay nagbabantay.”
The push for finding employment opportunities for PWDs is rooted in Mayor Dennis Hain’s goal of “trabaho para sa bawat pamilyang Cabuyeño,” the PESO head said.
“Actually, hindi lang po mga PWDs ang target natin ngayon kundi pati na rin ang mga senior citizen,” he added. “Kaya kung mapapansin po ninyo sa ating mga job posting sa social media, may mga job posting po kami na may logo ng senior citizens o ng PWDs. This is our way of informing the public na open po ang employment opportunities para sa lahat ng Cabuyeños.”
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