Manila: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to transform its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) initiative into a sustainable livelihood program that encourages entrepreneurship. This new direction aims to provide a pathway for beneficiaries to become self-reliant business owners.

According to Philippines News Agency, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced the shift from TUPAD's traditional short-term job placements to a framework that promotes entrepreneurial ventures at the grassroots level. The revised program will see graduates of specialized training programs from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) receiving the capital needed to start collective enterprises.

Tolentino highlighted the potential for beneficiaries to establish businesses such as coffee shops in locations like Cebu or Bohol, instead of being limited to temporary community cleanup work. "Ang gusto ko ngayon sa TUPAD . halimbawa, 'yung limang nag-training ng barista ng kape -- alam mo paggawa ng kape -- bigyan natin ng tamang puhunan niya para 'yung TUPAD maging coffee shop na rin nila doon sa Cebu o sa Bohol. Kaysa 'yung nagwalis-walis," Tolentino stated in a DOLE news release.

Discussions regarding the implementation of this new program have already taken place between Tolentino and TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez. The department is currently finalizing the specific guidelines and mechanisms, with plans to launch the upgraded program by July.

Regional directors will play a crucial role in executing the program on the ground, where they will identify suitable localized projects and facilitate the transition of beneficiaries from skills training to business ownership. TUPAD continues to serve as an emergency employment program, offering temporary jobs to workers affected by calamities, with wages aligned to regional minimum wage rates.