INSTITUTING MEASURES TO ASSIST WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND TEMPORARY FILLING UP OF VACANT POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT

WHEREAS, the effects of
the current global crisis are now felt by the country’s economy,
particularly in terms of company slowdowns and closures affecting
workers;

WHEREAS, despite the
overall resilience of the economy and the willingness of employers to
help the affected workers, greater concerted efforts by and between the
government and the private sector are necessary to prevent the
deepening of the crisis and to quicken
recovery;

WHEREAS, the government
must exhibit strong leadership and inspire confidence by contributing
to job security of workers and shore up the capacity of the private
sector to support this national effort.

NOW
THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the
Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by
law, do hereby order the concerned agencies and instrumentalities of
the government to implement the
following:

1. Allocate and utilize one and a
   half percent (1.5%) of their Budget for Operating Expenses for
   temporary hiring of qualified Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
   registered displaced workers and their
   dependents.
2. Campaign to encourage buoyant
   industries and companies under their supervision to hire on temporary
   or fixed, short-term basis DOLE registered displaced workers and their
   dependents.
3. Authorize the temporary
   filling-up of vacant plantilla positions in agencies whose approval of
   Rationalization Plans are pending at the Department of Budget and
   Management.

All agencies shall report to the
Department of Labor and Employment the jobs that will be created
pursuant to this Directive.

Done in the City of
Manila, this 10^th day of February in the year of
our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

By the
President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R.
ERMITA
Executive
Secretary