The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) continues to crank out timely "ayuda" or assistance via its flagship Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
On Saturday, July 31, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III led the distribution of over P100 million worth of assistance to vulnerable workers from various municipalities of Mountain Province under the program.
Worker-beneficiaries from five towns in the province trooped to Sabangan where the ceremonial payout of cash aid was held attended by provincial and town officials. Bello was joined by local DOLE officials during the payout, which saw the distribution of P46,709,991 to 4,281 beneficiaries.
Over in Paracelis, 4,857 beneficiaries received a total aid of P54,998,500.
Bello said TUPAD's aim is to provide emergency employment to informal sector workers affected by calamities or disasters. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it has been tweaked to accommodate employment initiatives of other agencies, like the one involving contact-tracing.
Paracelis Mayor Dr. Marcos Ayangwa thanked the DOLE head honcho for extending assistance to his constituents. “It is a big help for us.”
He said more than 4,000 workers were displaced by typhoon "Rosita", which ravaged the northern part of Luzon back in October 2018. Paracelis’s banana and corn plantation were wiped out during the typhoon.
Ayangwa said Paracelis was still reeling from the devastation when the COVID-19 pandemic affected the business in the municipality.
Meanwhile, Sabangan Mayor Marcial Lawilao said that Mountain Province's mayors have submitted TUPAD proposals to DOLE in order to assist their constituents.