DoLE to strengthen labor programs

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Tuesday that its P61.17-billion budget for 2026, 19.47% higher than its 2025 allocation, will fund government employment programs, livelihood initiatives, and labor compliance efforts.

The funds will support key initiatives such as the DoLE Integrated Livelihood Program, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers, the Government Internship Program, the Special Program for Employment of Students, and JobStart Philippines, DoLE said in a statement.

“The correct amount based on the General Appropriations Act (GAA) is P61.17 billion. If you check the posted GAA 2026 on the Department of Budget and Management website, this is the figure we have,” DoLE Undersecretary Warren M. Miclat was quoted in the statement.

Of this amount, P29.98 billion was earmarked for the Office of the Secretary, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the National Labor Relations Commission will receive P26.06 billion and P1.80 billion, respectively.

The 2026 budget also allocated P371.16 million for the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, P357.06 million for the National Wages and Productivity Commission, P2.52 billion for the Professional Regulation Commission, and P77.90 million for the Institute for Labor Studies.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma has instructed regional directors to safeguard the integrity of DoLE programs from political misuse, regardless of election cycles. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking