MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment said Wednesday it has opened its National Reintegration Center and all regional offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for retrenched overseas Filipino workers seeking to avail themselves of government livelihood assistance and job placement programs.Local workers who may be similarly affected by the financial crisis could also avail themselves of the same assistance from the DOLE and its regional and provincial offices. In a statement, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said that assistance to the affected workers under the DOLE's contingency plan primarily involves either helping them set up livelihood or income-generating projects or finding them suitable employment locally or overseas. For displaced OFWs or local workers who prefer to engage in business undertakings, Roque said that they would be initially granted an assistance package consisting of entrepreneurship counseling, training, and access to equipment. An accredited co-partner of the DOLE would provide the assistance to the workers, Roque said, adding that the initial assistance could be enhanced if the beneficiary wanted to. Roque said the assistance was free of any charge. He said that DOLE and OWWA were also prepared to assist OFWs and local workers who want to form business or livelihood cooperatives. He said that a workers' co-op would be granted loans depending on the number of its members. Last month, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched a P250-million livelihood support fund to help displaced OFWs. Roque explained that the mechanism aims to develop the capability of the workers to collectively start and manage a business or livelihood undertaking, adding that the beneficiaries would be assisted in forming project management teams which will direct and supervise the daily operations of their businesses. At the same time, the Manila-based NRCO and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will provide the necessary assistance to OFWs as well as local workers wanting to find employment overseas. Those who want local employment, on the other hand, can seek assistance from the Bureau of Local Employment or at the nearest DOLE office. For program details, workers may contact the NRCO at Tel. Nos. 528-0848 and the DOLE at 527-8000. | 
