Soccsksargen: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided temporary employment to more than 33,000 workers in the Soccsksargen region, under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DOLE reported that 33,743 workers were given temporary jobs and paid PHP304.37 million in wages from January to date. DOLE-Soccsksargen Director Imelda Gatinao emphasized that the value of TUPAD extends beyond short-term wage assistance by ensuring that beneficiaries acquire practical skills and work experience for future employment, livelihood, or entrepreneurship.
Gatinao stated that while TUPAD provides immediate assistance, its impact is intended to go beyond the wages received by beneficiaries. The program is being strengthened to include value and skills components, enabling workers to gain competencies and experience useful for future employment, livelihood, or community-based opportunities.
The regional implementation of TUPAD has expanded through convergence partnerships with government agencies and institutions, which allows the program to respond to specific community and institutional needs while generating temporary employment for workers. From January to August, 9,188 beneficiaries received a combined PHP89.42 million in wages through various convergence initiatives.
The Department of Education's Brigada Eskwela convergence accounted for the largest share, engaging 5,895 beneficiaries and releasing PHP57.12 million in wages for activities related to the preparation and maintenance of public schools. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) engaged 1,966 beneficiaries, releasing PHP18.68 million in wages for irrigation-related community needs.
Under TUPAD Tuloy Pasada, 548 beneficiaries received PHP5.13 million in wages, while the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology engaged 303 beneficiaries, who obtained PHP3.65 million in wages. The program also reached 436 beneficiaries in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), distributing PHP3.49 million in wages.
Additionally, the 12th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) convergence initiative provided temporary employment to 40 reservists, with PHP736,000 in wages. Gatinao highlighted that temporary employment should be a stepping stone, not the endpoint. The partnership with the 12th RCDG incorporates skills development into TUPAD activities, such as carpentry, masonry, and hollow-block making, enabling beneficiaries to acquire competencies they can use beyond their temporary employment.
