Over Php 10M in emergency employment aid provided to disadvantaged workers

By CDGamboa, KRForcadilla and CKBataga, Department of Labor and Employment XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XII in cooperation with its partner Local Government Units, provided over Php 10 million worth of emergency employment aid through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program pay-outs amounting to Php 10,281,600 that benefitted 3,160 workers in the provinces Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato this March 2022.

One Thousand Three Hundred Ninety of these beneficiaries are from the 1st Congressional District of Sultan Kudarat including Lebak and Kalamansig, while 1,770 hail from the Municipality of Matalam, Cotabato Province. Each of the 3,160 beneficiaries received a total wage of Php 3,360 as compensation for 10-day social community works involving clean and green projects in their respective localities.

Phel L. Saligedan, 57 years old and a tricycle driver from Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, said that he will use the assistance provided to buy his maintenance medicines and will strive to start a small business. The TUPAD program is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for the displaced, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed 90 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

Meanwhile, Angelina Asuna, a beneficiary from Matalam added that, “Hindi talaga kalakihang halaga pero sa panahon ngayon sa sobrang hirap ng buhay at krisis, malaking tulong na sa pangangailangan ng pamilya and sweldo mula sa TUPAD”.

“The Department continues to reach out to our vulnerable workers this pandemic, and with the exemption from the election ban, we work to accomplish more in providing assistance to workers even during this period,” said DOLE Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante.

The said emergency employment aid is one of the flagship programs of DOLE that has been granted exemption from the ban on the provision of Section 261(g) of the Omnibus Election Code.

...sa panahon ngayon sa sobrang hirap ng buhay at krisis, malaking tulong na sa pangangailangan ng pamilya and sweldo mula sa TUPAD”.