ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–To further strengthen the implementation of different programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III led on Thursday, September 23, the turn-over of assistance totaling P13,464,580 to some 1,944 beneficiaries here in the city and Lanao del Norte province.
The financial assistance consisted of P9,396,345 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD, P3,783,235.50 DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program or DILP, P140,000 Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay, P125,000 Tulong Pangkabuhayan Para sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang-OFWs or Tulong PUSO, and P10,000 each under the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program or ELAP and OFW Dependent Scholarship Program or ODSP.
Bello said he is visiting provinces to implement the government’s aid to the people adversely affected by the pandemic.
Of the 1,944 total beneficiaries, 1,595 were assisted through TUPAD while 319 through DILP.
TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not exceeding a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.
DILP, on the other hand, reduces the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers through self-employment or livelihood undertaking.
Of the assistance package implemented OWWA, eight (8) benefit from the Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay, 15 for Tulong PUSO, and one each for the ELAP and ODSP.
The Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay program enables OFWs who decided to stay home for good and start a livelihood undertaking while the Tulong PUSO is a one-time grant to support the formation, enhancement, or restoration of livelihood projects/undertaking of OFW organizations.
Moreover, the ODSP is a scholarship program available to a qualified dependent of an OFW who is an active member of OWWA whose salary is not more than $600 while ELAP is an education and livelihood grant intended for dependents of OFWs who were active at the time of their death.
Meanwhile, Iligan Lone District Representative Frederick Siao thanked DOLE for the assistance provided to Iligan residents.
“Salamat sa DOLE sa maayong paglihok sa ilang mga programa sama sa ilang mga proyekto sa OWWA ug sa ilang programa sa TUPAD. Nakatabang kini ug maayo sa katawhan sa Iligan labaw karong panahuna nga naay pandemic,” he said.
[Thank you to DOLE for the good implementation of its programs such as the OWWA projects and TUPAD program. It has helped and benefited the people of Iligan especially now that there is a pandemic.]
Siao said his office will continue supporting such programs that help the people in times of difficulties. He also hopes for Iligan City to receive more assistance from the national government like DOLE especially at this time when people are hungry for jobs and livelihood assistance (APB/PIA Lanao del Norte)