A total of 2,087 displaced workers in the province of Isabela were hired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
According to DOLE Regional Office 2 (DOLE RO2) Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales, the distribution of payout to beneficiaries was conducted in a two-day disbursement on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, in Ilagan City and Santiago City, Isabela, respectively.
Gonzales said 1,845 beneficiaries from Ilagan City are displaced workers while the 242 TUPAD recipients in Santiago City are vendors, laborers, and a group of women. A total of P7,780,550 was distributed to the beneficiaries; P6,885,150 in Ilagan City and P895,400 in Santiago City.
The TUPAD platform is one of the flagship programs of the labor department that provides temporary employment to informal sector workers and vulnerable workers affected by natural or man-made calamities.
Labor Information Officer Chester Trinidad told Manila Bulletin that each of the workers received a minimum rate of P400 per day.
“Most of the beneficiaries were small vendors, laborers, and women earning insufficient income who engaged in community service. Each worker under the program is paid the highest minimum wage rate applicable in the region for a day of work,” said Trinidad.
Under the TUPAD program, beneficiaries are entitled to receive a salary of P3,400 to P5,100 depending on the length of service. Workers will be employed for a minimum period of 10 days but not exceeding 30 days.