Manila:: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided immediate job support to over 3,700 workers in Calabarzon through assisting in the preparation of public schools for the opening of School Year 2026-2027 next week.
According to Philippines News Agency, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino represented the agency during the Brigada Eskwela regional kick-off in San Pedro, Laguna. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive for government agencies to coordinate efforts to prepare school facilities and ensure safe, healthy learning spaces for Filipino learners.
Secretary Tolentino expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "I am happy to be part of the Brigada, for the first time, we are launching this endeavor. The DOLE will finance our beneficiaries in cleaning this area," while assuring that the DOLE under his leadership "will be very, very productive."
In Calabarzon, a total of 3,766 beneficiaries were mobilized to assist in the upkeep of 197 schools, with total aid amounting to PHP 24.17 million. Nationwide, the program has already reached 5,709 schools and engaged 130,961 workers, with assistance valued at PHP 835.89 million as of June 2. TUPAD Brigada Eskwela targets 240,000 beneficiaries nationwide, with a PHP2 billion allocation.
The labor chief also visited TUPAD Brigada beneficiaries at Bacoor National High School to ensure the program's smooth implementation. He recently directed regional directors to ensure the effective implementation of DOLE programs, including the TUPAD Brigada, which officially kicked off on June 1 at the Cabadbaran City National High School in Agusan del Norte.
Additionally, in Calabarzon, the DOLE has launched the TUPAD Biometrics Integrated Online System (BIOS) to implement TUPAD more quickly, accurately, and securely. The digital platform accelerates processing times, simplifies beneficiary validation, and minimizes paperwork. Moreover, it streamlines program monitoring through automated attendance tracking, centralized records management, and instant ID generation.
