Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay – The RTWPB-IX conducted a session titled “Improving Productivity through Financial Analysis + Administrative Due Process,” together with the Department of Labor and Employment – Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (DOLE-ZSFO), Regional Conciliation and Mediation Board (RCMB) IX, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Negosyo Center Buug on 22 July 2025 at Buug Palace Inland Resort. 

The activity was attended by 37 participants representing 45 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in Buug and neighboring municipalities. 

Mr. Joel M. Ijirani, Board Secretary VI of RTWPB-IX, introduced the agency and gave the participants an overview of the Board’s wage-setting process. This was followed by the session on Financial Analysis, where Ms. Brenda M. Quintas, IT Officer I of RTWPB-IX, thoroughly discussed the importance and benefits of financial analysis and understanding different types of financial statements. Ms. Erra Jell L. Gracia and Ms. Nur Iyam T. Paches, Senior Labor and Employment Officer and Administrative Assistant III, respectively, of RTWPB-IX, continued the discussion on how to utilize financial analysis as a productivity tool. 

Dir. Oliver C. Jao, Regional Branch Director of RCMB-IX, provided an in-depth lecture on various workplace issues that require due process. The participants were apprised of the requirements in processing employee termination, preventive suspension, and employee discipline, among others. Dir. Jao also answered questions from participants during the open forum. 

“Thank you very much for this training. We hope to see more engagements like this for budding entrepreneurs and those planning to start their own businesses,” said Mr. Mario Ighot, representative of Vizmin Arch Traders, one the MSME participants. 

The successful conduct of the event was made possible by the assistance extended by DTI Negosyo Center Buug, through their Business Counselor, Ms. Queenie W. Tan. Personnel from the Philippine Employment Service Office (PESO), led by Mr. Jason A. Belano and Ms. Kienjerch S. Arriola, were also present to assist in the facilitation of the activity. 

Chief Elamsalih E. Ungad, head of DOLE-ZSFO, also graced the event and encouraged the participants to actively engage in the discussions, emphasizing that both productivity training and the lecture on administrative due process are vital components in fostering a productive and compliant enterprise. (Brenda M. Quintas)