QUEZON CITY—The November 4, 2025 episode of “DOLE sa AFP Radio” on DWDD 1134 kHz AM had National Labor Relations Commission’s (NLRC) Commissioner Cecilio Alejandro C. Villanueva of the Third Division as guest.

Commissioner Villanueva explained that NLRC is a quasi-judicial body under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), primarily tasked with resolving labor cases and ensuring industrial peace for both local and overseas workers.

Commissioner Villanueva went on further to discuss the common cases filed before the NLRC, such as illegal termination, the process flow for filing cases before the NLRC, which starts with the mandatory conciliation-mediation under the Single Entry Approach (SEnA), followed by referral of the case for compulsory arbitration before the Labor Arbiters, if no settlement is reached before the SEnA, appeal to the Commission, and execution proceedings to enforce final judgments.

To ensure that the services are closer to the clients, he stressed that the filing of cases must be done at the Regional Arbitration Branches (RABs), Sub-Regional Branches (Sub-RABs), or Satellite Offices where the principal place of business of the company is located.

The success of SEnA was also highlighted noting that, as of August 2025, the NLRC has handled 21,413 requests for assistance with a 42.67% settlement rate. This successful mediation resulted in a substantial Php303 million settlement amount, benefitting approximately 8,200 workers.

Commissioner Villanueva also underscored NLRC’s campaign to protect clients from unscrupulous individuals like ambulance chasers and fixers. Upon the directive from Chairperson Grace E. Maniquiz-Tan, Commission Attorneys and lawyers assigned at the Research and Legal Department assist clients in filing their complaints. The NLRC also partnered with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to provide free legal assistance to eligible stakeholders.

Clients may also be apprised of the status of their cases by contacting the concerned RAB and Public Assistance Center through the contact numbers found on the NLRC official website, as well as through its Facebook page. He also mentioned the use of the Electronic Case Tracking System (e-CTS) which will allow clients to check the status of their cases online.

Commissioner Villanueva further detailed various initiatives of NLRC aimed at expediting and improving service delivery, such as continuous training for NLRC employees, particularly frontline officers. He also noted the significance of Memorandum of Agreements with agencies such as Land Transportation Office, Land Registration Authority, and the Securities and Exchange Commission which help in the enforcement and implementation of final and executory judgments.

In closing, Commissioner Villanueva quoted Chairperson Maniquiz-Tan’s message, which affirmed NLRC’s commitment to integrity and ensuring justice is accessible to all, with a focus on modernizing systems and processes for accountability and transparency, and ensuring the fair, speedy and equitable disposition of labor cases.

The “DOLE sa AFP Radio” program is hosted by Tim Laderas and Carla Malabanan of the DOLE-Information and Publication Service which aims to inform the public about labor and employment-related policies, programs, and issues.

A recorded livestream of the interview with Commissioner Villanueva is available on the DOLE’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/laborandemploymentph/videos/2050005252408453.

ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ:

ᴊᴇʀᴅɪɴᴇ ᴅᴇ ɢᴜᴢᴍᴀɴ

ᴀᴅᴍɪɴ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇʀ ɪᴠ, ʀɪᴘᴅ