By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Labor and Employment–Employees’ Compensation Commission (DOLE-ECC) on Monday, April 14.
The MOA sets in motion the long-anticipated establishment of the Workers Rehabilitation Center Complex (WRCC) in Tanay, Rizal. Said facility is envisioned as a hub for medical rehabilitation and livelihood support, while simultaneously offering worker-friendly housing opportunities to Filipino workers.
This initiative brings Letter of Instruction No. 856, s. 1979 into life, heeding the call for specialized centers that cater to the needs of industrially-disabled workers.
“More than a formal partnership, this agreement is a tangible move toward a society that upholds compassion and inclusion, especially for workers injured in the line of duty. It’s a message that they are not forgotten and never will be,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said, emphasizing the deeper value of the agreement.
For his part, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that the WRCC is “a living embodiment of our shared vision which is the creation of a society that values human dignity, prioritizes healing and the integration and builds systems that give those workers who suffered work-related injuries and disabilities the second chance they rightfully deserve.”
WRCC to improve workers’ welfare, address needs
Under the joint agreement of DHSUD and DOLE-ECC, the latter will provide funds for the project while the former will assist in addressing the technical requirements associated with building the WRCC.
DHSUD’s participation ensures the integration of its flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, which includes the construction of accessible housing units within the complex—an initiative that Secretary Acuzar calls “a symbol of Bagong Pilipinas—isang bansang may malasakit, at may pagkalinga sa mga higit na nangangailangan.”
“Ang pangarap naming tahanan para sa bawat Pilipino at ang mga komunidad na binubuo nito ay hindi kumpleto kung may maiiwan, kaya sa proyektong pong ito, sinisiguro nating may lugar ang ating mga manggagawang may kapansanan sa ilalim ng mas inklusibo at progresibong Bagong Pilipinas” the housing czar stressed.
Located on a 500,000-square-meter parcel of land in Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal, the WRCC is more than just a facility. It is a living statement of the government’s commitment to reintegration, dignity, and care for those who have sacrificed for the country’s progress.
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