Bacolod: Over 3,062 residents from 21 barangays in Bacolod have received a total of PHP15.708 million in wages through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, an initiative by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE-Negros Occidental Provincial Head Carmela Abellar spearheaded the distribution of checks to barangay chiefs and treasurers at the Sugar Workers Development Center. Abellar expressed hope that the TUPAD program would benefit the barangays and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to assist.

TUPAD is a community-based emergency employment initiative, where the recipient barangays act as the accredited co-partners (ACPs) of DOLE, responsible for direct service delivery to beneficiaries. The program provides beneficiaries with 10 days of work, compensated at the daily minimum wage of PHP513, amounting to PHP5,130 per beneficiary.

Granada village chief Armando Vito acknowledged the program's significance, noting that it allows beneficiaries to earn income while contributing to community clean-up efforts, and helps them purchase school supplies for their children.

The ACPs, identified in collaboration with the Abang Lingkod party-list, include Barangays such as Bata, Felisa, Granada, Punta Taytay, among others, each receiving varying amounts based on the number of beneficiaries. Barangay Bata, for instance, had 400 beneficiaries receiving PHP2.052 million, while Barangay 21 had 60 beneficiaries receiving PHP307,800. The initiative highlights DOLE's ongoing commitment to providing support and employment opportunities to disadvantaged and displaced workers in the region.