The Department of Labor and Employment in Northern Mindanao (DOLE-10) on Tuesday said it has so far released a total of PHP564 million worth of grants under the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers” (TUPAD) program this year.
In a press conference, DOLE-10 Assistant Director Estrella Pahalia sais the total amount has been distributed to 113,983 TUPAD beneficiaries, with Lanao del Norte getting the biggest chunk amounting to PHP166.5 million.
This was followed by Misamis Oriental with PHP163.9 million; Misamis Occidental with PHP90 million; Bukidnon – PHP85.8 million; Cagayan de Oro with PHP38 million; and Camiguin with PHP20.4 million.
TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed 30 days, depending on the nature of work.
Pahalia said another PHP130 million will be distributed before the year ends for Northern Mindanao.
TUPAD beneficiaries, she added, should be at least 15 years old.
“There’s no categorization as to the age limit, as long as the person is capable of working, safe, and healthy,” Pahalia said.
Those who work under the program will be tasked to complete community development cleanup drives and beautification of the environment.
Best practice
One of TUPAD’s success stories was that of Khent Bryan A. Waminal, 28, who became a TUPAD coordinator under the DOLE-10 Camiguin Provincial Field Office (Cam PFO).
Waminal said he can now afford to pay the monthly mortgage of his motorcycle and put up additional capital for his broiler chicken production with a carrying capacity of 1,000 heads.
He is also earning an average net income of PHP20,000 per cycle from his business and was able to defray his family’s basic needs like food, electricity, medication of his parents, and support the education of his cousin.
“Due to my salary, I was able to loan for additional capital to my business. Other than that, I also earned experience and skills in learning technical writing and (doing) community engagements,” he said in the vernacular.
Other DOLE activities
As part of the DOLE’’s 88th-anniversary celebration this year, the regional labor and employment office here announced an online job fair that will be held from December 9 to 11, and the 5th Labor and Employment Summit, a virtual career coaching activity, on December 17.
As of December 6, the agency has recorded 1,081 vacancies from 49 local companies, and another 72 vacancies from three overseas manpower agencies.
In total, the online job fair will offer 1,153 vacancies from 52 companies.
The agency has also launched the Child Labor Awareness Program (CLAP) TikTok account by Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program community facilitators and focal persons, as an online educational platform using the TikTok application.
Contents adapt the needs of online learners, their parents, and communities in triumphing the government’s Batang Malaya Campaign where a million children are to be withdrawn from being child laborers in 2025.
Source: Philippines News Agency