The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-VII (RTWPB-VII) actively took part in the celebration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work (WDSHW) 2026 on April 28, 2026, at Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Cebu City. Led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region VII, the event transformed Central Visayas into a hub of occupational safety advocacy and community service.

The observance featured the signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and the launch of key safety initiatives aimed at strengthening occupational safety and health (OSH) systems both in workplaces and communities. The MOAs are:

1. Safe Work at Cebu Port Authority Project (DOLE and CPA);
2. Barangay OSH Patrol (DOLE and DILG); and
3. Practical Electrical Safety Module (DOLE and IIEE Cebu).

Together, these programs underscored the critical importance of resilient and localized OSH mechanisms in preventing workplace accidents and safeguarding workers across sectors.

The event was made possible through the cooperation of the DOLE Region VII, Cebu Ports Authority, Department of Interior Local Government which supervised barangays in Cebu City, Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers – Cebu Chapter, Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (RTIPC), DOLE Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC), Philippine College of Occupational Medicine, and the Philippine National Red Cross, which provided bloodletting services during the celebration.

The RTWPB-VII’s participation highlighted the strong link between a safe working environment and improved productivity. By engaging with the RTIPC and other labor-management bodies, the Board emphasized that safety is not a cost, but a strategic investment that promotes sustainable enterprise growth and work efficiency.

“A healthy worker is a productive worker,” said DOLE VII Regional Director and RTWPB-VII Chairperson Director Roy L. Buenafe. “When we institutionalize safety through programs like the Barangay OSH Patrollers, we are protecting the region’s most valuable resource—its people,” he added. (Atty. Jess Russell F. Jumalon)