The Department of Labor and Employment has allocated an initial P455.6 million for the implementation of the emergency employment program in Central Luzon and CALABARZON, which was ravaged by typhoon ‘Karding’ last week.
Through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, workers in the informal sector in said regions will work at least 10 days to help clean, remove blockages in drains, separate debris, and other activities necessary for the rehabilitation of their communities.
Labor Secretary Bienvenio E. Laguesma promised to continue to support the workers affected by the typhoon. He also assured the provision of additional funds from TUPAD if the initial allocation is not sufficient and emphasized the improved implementation of the training program to the beneficiaries.
DOLE Central Luzon Regional Director Geraldine M. Panlilio announced that a total of P365 million has been allocated for the implementation of the program in collaboration with the local government and the respective Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in the region.
According to Panlilio, 14,000 beneficiaries are currently under the program, while 29,000 others are scheduled to work next week. The DOLE Regional Office also gave wages to 31,333 TUPAD beneficiaries in Bulacan, Tarlac, and Bataan after the typhoon devastation last week.
In order to increase the skills of the beneficiaries of the emergency employment, Panlilio said that the DOLE Central Luzon has contacted the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide carpentry skills training to the workers of Bulacan, Aurora, and Nueva Ecija.
“Not only will the beneficiaries work for 10 days, they will also undergo carpentry training. In this way, they will not only build their own houses, but they can also work in construction companies,” said Panlilio while announcing that construction skills are in demand due to the many construction projects in the region.
Meanwhile, DOLE CALABARZON Regional Director Exequiel Ronie A. Guzman said that P90.6 million has been allocated for the emergency employment of informal sector workers affected by typhoon ‘Karding’ in the region.
More than 19,800 workers in the affected areas in Polilio Island, Bordeaux and other towns of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite will benefit from this.
TUPAD is an institutionalized program that is implemented especially during calamities and typhoons. This is a community-based amelioration program that provides emergency employment to unemployed, underemployed, and seasonal workers for a minimum of 10 days and no more than 30 days, depending on the type of work to be performed. Beneficiaries’ salaries are based on the prevailing minimum wage in the region.
-END-
