The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Thursday flew to Mindanao to assess the impact on employment of the earthquakes that hit southern Philippines the past days.

In a statement, DoLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that he sent Undersecretary Ana Dione and Assistant Secretary Benjo Santos Benavidez to General Santos City and Davao City “to lead regional DOLE officials in the assessment of the situation.”

The Labor chief added that he will also personally fly to Davao City on Sunday to check on the extent of the damage and its effect on the employment of its residents, noting that he has yet to receive reports of job displacements in affected areas in Mindanao.

Bello said that he will also profile the workers upon their arrival, while inspectors who have already been deployed will check the compliance of establishments in affected areas to occupational safety and health standards.

“We have received a directive from the president to monitor and provide appropriate assistance to the earthquake-affected cities. Even when the first earthquake jolted Mindanao early this month, we have already deployed our team to provide assistance for the affected workers,” Bello said.