Question & AnswerQ&A (DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 85, S. OF 2007)
The primary objective of the DOLE-AMP is to provide a safety net program that mobilizes, augments and complements efforts to enhance the competitiveness and employability of workers, and assist distressed companies in adopting socially responsible workforce restructuring policies to prevent or minimize job losses.
The program covers threatened or displaced workers due to economic reasons such as rightsizing, redundancy, import competition, technological changes and other analogous causes directly or indirectly caused by trade liberalization; at-risk companies particularly those desiring responsible workforce restructuring; and communities with large-scale displacement of local workforce.
The three major components are: (1) Direct Services provided by the DOLE Quick Response Team (QRT); (2) DOLE Services that can be tapped by proponents including facilitation of overseas employment, entrepreneurship, employability enhancement, labor-management education, and responsible workforce restructuring; and (3) DOLE Institutional Capability Building.
The QRT serves as the Workers Action Group within DOLE that provides immediate assistance such as legal aid, job search assistance, employment facilitation, and advocacy mechanisms to support workers who are about to lose or have lost their jobs and to assist companies during workforce restructuring.
The program provides financial assistance to displaced workers wishing to work overseas to cover placement fees equivalent to one month salary and miscellaneous expenses amounting to five thousand pesos, limited to prospective OFWs with valid employment contracts in the unskilled category.
Alternative measures include training linked to periods of redundancies, leave schemes, changes in work time or organization, short-time work, temporary layoffs, enterprise creation, early retirement, financial incentives, and conversion training measures.
The PMT formulates policies and guidelines, evaluates and approves project proposals costing more than P200,000, and recommends approval to the Secretary of projects costing one million pesos and above, thus overseeing the program's implementation.
Program funds come from the budget allocated for Prevention of Job Losses and Assistance to Displaced Workers, managed by the DOLE Central Office. Regional offices receive an emergency bridging fund of up to P200,000 for initial mobilization. All funds or project financing are monitored and liquidated according to COA rules and accounting standards.
Required documents include a project proposal or feasibility study (for entrepreneurship and training), POEA approved job contracts (for overseas employment), endorsement of the DOLE Regional Director, certification of displacement from the establishment or DOLE, and valid employment contracts for those applying for overseas employment assistance.
Regional offices must submit project profiles and quarterly progress reports to the DOLE-AMP Secretariat. The Secretariat consolidates reports, monitors project implementation, and submits summaries to the PMT. Annual or terminal reports on project impact and fund utilization are also required to ensure accountability and effectiveness.