ORMOC CITY – Members of the LGBTQ community in this city were the recipients of the ‘Free Bisikleta Project II’ of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which was released at the Multipurpose Hall of the new Ormoc City Hall on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

A total of 10 program beneficiaries for the first batch received a brand new mountain bike, cellphone, and PHP 5,000 worth of prepaid load.

According to Karen Tampos Manoriña of the Public Employment and Service Office (PESO)-Ormoc, it was Dindi Tan, a transgender woman and President of the LGBQT Community Nationwide, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)/National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) Director IV, who chose that members of the LGBTQ community in this city be the program recipients.

To recall, Tan accompanied former Labor Secretary Bebot Bello during his visit to Ormoc City on February 22, 2022.

Meanwhile, the said distribution activity was also attended by Edgar Tabuyan, the Chief Labor and Employment Officer (LEO)/Head of DOLE West Leyte Field Office (WLFO), members of the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin, Sr.; PESO Manager Josephine Hermosilla; Walter Marc Cantero, OWWA Family Welfare Officer; and the President of the LGBTQ Community in Ormoc City, John Patrick Joseph Ceniza. Accordingly, there will be another set of Ormocanon program beneficiaries who will receive said assistance in the near future. By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail January 9-15, 2023 issue)