GENERAL SANTOS CITY, June 3 (PNA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 has opened a special hotline for concerns of local workers regarding occupational safety and health (OSH) in their work places.
Ofelia Domingo, DOLE Region 12 director, said Wednesday the regional office’s Occupational Safety and Health Center in Koronadal City may now receive and process inquiries as well as complaints from workers and concerned residents in the area.
She said they tapped the OSHC unit to assist the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) regional extension office in addressing OSH concerns of workers within the region’s four provinces and five cities.
Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
“We’re urging the public to help us in our campaign to foster safe and healthy workplaces by reporting to us all risky, dangerous, and unsafe working conditions and practices. Rest assured that we will immediately take appropriate actions once we receive these information,” Domingo said.
The official said she assigned one of their personnel assigned at the OSHC regional extension unit to handle the OSH-related inquiries and complaints.
She said workers and concerned residents may reach out to the OSHC Regional Extension Unit, which is located within the DOLE-12 compound in Mabini Street in Koronadal City.
They may contact the office through email (oshc_ro12@yahoo.com) and hotline numbers (083) 228-2190 and 0910-6226193.
Domingo said that aside from receiving complaints, the initiative is also focused on informing, educating and accustoming workers or employers and the general public on occupational safety and health issues.
“Our goal is to make everyone aware and vigilant on these issues,” she said.
In reporting the presence or existence of risky and unsafe conditions and practices in establishments, she urged workers and residents to be prudent and honest.
Domingo said that while they would exert efforts to verify even anonymous tips, they want to avoid having prank calls from supposed reporters or tipsters.(PNA)