DOLE inspection, caravan aid Iloilo transport workers

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The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VI said it carried out a weeklong high-impact, high-visibility inspection and a separate inter-agency service caravan for transport workers in Iloilo in late March 2026, combining labor compliance checks with on-site government services across key terminals and transport cooperatives.

DOLE Regional Office VI said the inspections in the transport sector ran from March 24–27, 2026, across transport cooperatives in the city and province of Iloilo, while the first inter-agency Government Service Caravan for the sector was held on March 26–27, 2026.

According to the agency, the twin initiatives were aimed at bringing government services closer to drivers, operators and other transport workers while enforcing labor standards, occupational safety and health compliance, and safeguards for both workers and passengers.

DOLE said the two-day caravan covered three locations: Vallacar Transit, also identified as Ceres Terminal, Ungka, Pavia Terminal, and Mohon Terminal.

The labor department said the caravan was designed to reach transport workers who often do not have enough time to visit government offices, allowing them to access essential assistance without leaving their workplaces.

DOLE said the service caravan formed part of its High Impact, High Visibility Inspection Program in the transport sector, which seeks to bring government closer to workers and ensure that labor standards and occupational safety and health laws are strictly implemented in the industry.

During the inspections, DOLE labor inspectors assessed compliance with general labor standards, including minimum wage, overtime pay, holiday pay, working hours, rest periods and social security premium contributions.

The agency said occupational safety and health compliance was also closely evaluated, with attention given to personnel and facilities, vehicle roadworthiness, driver fitness and terminal safety.

DOLE said the inspection drive was intended to protect workers from exploitation and fatigue, reinforce a culture of compliance within transport cooperatives, support the full implementation of the OSH law and help reduce accidents and health risks for workers and passengers.

The department added that the inspections were carried out through high-visibility strategies that included joint inter-agency inspections, media engagement through press briefings, the distribution of informational materials such as flyers and posters, social media campaigns and on-site dialogues with drivers and operators.

Those dialogues, DOLE said, were meant to provide learning opportunities by directly explaining compliance requirements and encouraging cooperation from transport stakeholders.

Participating agencies in the caravan included the Department of Health, which provided health-related services and medicines, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which assisted workers with eGov portal registration.

DOLE said the Social Security System facilitated registration, benefit filing, record updates and benefits orientation, while PhilHealth assisted with membership registration and data amendments.

The Pag-IBIG Fund, according to the agency, delivered membership registration, account services and loan application support during the caravan.

DOLE said the Land Transportation Office provided Lakbay Gabay services in one release and also distributed food packs, while the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board extended services related to licensing, registration, compliance guidelines and vehicle roadworthiness checks, including vehicle and unit roadworthiness checks.

DOLE Regional Office VI also said it provided labor advisory services and promoted workplace occupational safety and health through dedicated help desks and on-site inspections.

Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. said the caravan was meant to bring government closer to transport workers, recognize their vital role in keeping communities moving safely and ensure they have access to essential services, protection and support through more responsive and accessible assistance delivered on the ground.

Rodriguez also said the department would continue to uphold fair labor practices, ensure safe transport and protect public welfare by sustaining visible inspections that safeguard workers and passengers in other provinces in Western Visayas.

The combined operations reflect DOLE’s broader push to pair labor law enforcement with direct service delivery in high-mobility sectors, particularly transport, where long working hours and constant travel can make access to government programs more difficult for frontline workers.