MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)–For the month of October, a series of payout worth P10,032,000 was conducted benefitting 1,672 disadvantaged/displaced workers from the municipalities of Kibawe, Don Carlos, Kalilangan and Valencia City.
Each beneficiary received a total of P6,000 as their salaries for the 16 days’ emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa mga Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DOLE-10 Bukidnon Provincial Field Office Chief Raul L. Valmores said the identified and profiled disadvantaged/displaced workers from the said areas were hired to identified social and economic community projects, agro-forestry community projects and disinfection/sanitation of community, or other public facilities at their respective barangays/municipalities.
Kibawe Municipality paid-out 297 workers with total wages of P1,782,000. Likewise, Don Carlos and Kalilangan municipalities both paid their 155 workers-beneficiaries worth P930,000 each. Valencia City paid its 1,065 beneficiaries totaling P6,390,000.
West Poblacion Kalilangan beneficiary Marites Bordado said, “Finding a job during this pandemic is very difficult. This is why I am very thankful I was identified as one of the TUPAD beneficiaries thru our local government unit (LGU)’s recommendation. I am now able to afford our basic needs.”
Bordado is a 50-year-old mother with seasonal work and supports the family with five children.
On the other hand, Don Carlos 20-year-old beneficiary Donna Dage Gevero said, “As a single parent, I am very thankful that I was able to avail this program. I will use the salary I earned for a start-up capital on a small business so that I can support my child. I am hoping that we can still avail next year’s implementation.”
Don Carlos Municipal Mayor Ma. Victoria O. Pizarro expressed her continued support to DOLE through TUPAD, “Thank you to DOLE-10 Bukidnon PFO for facilitating the implementation of TUPAD in our Municipality, through your help, we were able to help not just 155 beneficiaries, but has also extended assistance to their immediate families. In this time of pandemic, this assistance from our government will be very helpful to all our constituents. Looking forward to partnering with you in the coming years.”
Pizarro emphasized to her constituents that the TUPAD program is for temporary employment only; thus, she advised and motivated all beneficiaries to work hard to gain regular employment or livelihood undertaking.
TUPAD is a contingency program under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP). The displaced and disadvantaged workers are given the opportunity to have short term employment and compensated with 100% of the prevailing minimum wage of the region.
The program is also a community-based (municipality/barangay) package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers and underemployed for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed. (DOLE-Bukidnon/PIA-10)
