DUMAGUETE CITY: A total of 48,056 individuals in Negros Oriental benefited this year from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). According to Philippines News Agency, Raizza Phoebe Rubia, DOLE-Negros Oriental information officer, stated that as of November 18, more than PHP272 million have been released in payouts. DOLE-Negros Oriental has also allocated an additional PHP55.9 million for TUPAD beneficiaries in the fourth quarter of 2024. Rubia mentioned that the exact number of beneficiaries for the additional allocation cannot be confirmed yet, as the identification of TUPAD workers depends on program implementors such as local government units and congressional district representatives. She noted that the work periods for beneficiaries vary, with some assigned jobs for 10 days and others for 15. As of the latest monitoring, payouts have been distributed to 8,404 beneficiaries under the fourth-quarter allocation. TUPAD provides emergency employment for displaced, disadvantaged, and marginalized individuals, assigning tasks such as street sweeping and canal cleaning.