At least PHP18.9 million benefits have been released to 1,122 workers across Eastern Visayas in 2025 under the Single-Entry Approach (SEnA) Program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here reported on Monday.

The labor department registered a 88.44 percent disposition rate of cases, exceeding the national target of at least 75 percent of requests for assistance (RFAs) resolved under the SEnA mechanism.

DOLE Eastern Visayas Regional Director Dax Villaruel said the results demonstrate the effectiveness of early intervention in labor dispute resolution.

“By providing an accessible and non-adversarial mechanism, we are able to protect workers’ rights while promoting industrial peace,” Villaruel said in a statement.

He added that the monetary claims facilitated through the program provided relief, justice and timely support to more than a thousand families in Eastern Visayas.

The DOLE in Eastern Visayas handled 934 RFAs during the year.

Of these, 826 cases were successfully settled, while 100 were either withdrawn or referred to the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and other concerned government agencies.

Eight cases remain scheduled for mandatory conciliation conferences.

Overall, 99 percent of all RFAs were disposed of, reflecting the SEnA program’s efficiency in addressing labor concerns at the earliest possible stage, according to Villaruel.

Under the SEnA framework, parties are required to undergo a mandatory 30-day conciliation process before disputes may be elevated to formal and often lengthy tribunal proceedings.

The program provides a speedy, cost-free, and accessible avenue for workers and employers to resolve labor issues without resorting to litigation. (PNA)