THE INTERNATIONAL Labour Organization (ILO) Rural Sectors Project, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI Davao del Norte Field Office (DOLE-DNFO), convened a meeting with the Banana Industry Tripartite Council (BITC) on May 14, 2024, in Davao City.
The gathering served as a platform for labor and employer representatives within the BITC to exchange recommendations and provide updates on initiatives aimed at fostering sustained compliance within the sector. The BITC is a collaborative platform comprising representatives from the government, employers, and workers in the said industry.
At the meeting, DOLE XI regional director Atty. Randolf Pensoy unveiled the consolidated Strategic Compliance Plan (SCP), which centers on fostering collaboration between ‘big enterprise-small enterprise’ partnerships in the banana sector. The SCP encompasses a comprehensive lineup of strategies including facilitating access to capital, affordable inputs, and technology for small-scale banana growers through the support of large-scale enterprises.
Additionally, it focuses on knowledge sharing to enhance farming practices, capacity-building through specialized training, and facilitating access to established distribution networks and international markets for small-scale growers through partnerships with larger enterprises.
The convention also provided a forum for the project’s regional and social partners to engage in discussions concerning progress through an outcome-harvesting workshop and documentation of good practices. Notable topics included the project’s gender mainstreaming strategy, awareness-raising on occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, and addressing sector-specific labor issues within ITCs, presented by Ms. Cerilyn Pastolero, Project Manager.
Also present during the said event were Alyannah Lagasca and Antoinette Santos of ILO, BITC vice-chairperson for labor Samuel Cardenio, BITC vice-chairperson for management Beatriz Francia, and personnel of DOLE XI Labor Relations team.
The ILO Rural Sectors Project is generously supported by the US Department of Labor (US DOL), underscoring the commitment to fostering sustainable compliance and advancing the welfare of workers within the rural sectors. Through partnerships and innovative strategies, the project and the DOLE aim to address the unique challenges faced by workers and employers in rural economies and foster harmonious industrial relations within the region.
