Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte has facilitated the early payout of salaries for his office's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program beneficiaries.

Duterte did so that he could ensure a happier celebration of the holidays for his constituents in the first district, which has 54 barangays.

TUPAD is a community–based cash assistance program that offers emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not more than 30 days, depending on the nature of work.

Duterte, who is on his second term as congressman, had instructed his staff to ensure that the cash aid were distributed to the beneficiaries before Christmas.

“With everyone’s effort and cooperation, not only in my office, everyone will feel the happiness this holiday season brings,” said the Mindanao lawmaker.

“All TUPAD beneficiaries in the first district, who can now physically get together and celebrate the holidays with their families, were able to celebrate Christmas blissfully this year, and will welcome the New Year a little more abundantly," he noted.

Duterte further reckoned that the holiday season "is best enjoyed when it is not centered on decorations and festivities but when love is at its core".

On top of the early distribution of the TUPAD payout, Duterte's office also held a gift-giving program led by the congressman's son, Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II. A total of 8,860 barangay workers received presents during the event.

The solon's office said the gift-giving program was meant to give “everyone a Merry Christmas despite all the heavy responsibilities and challenges everyone went through from the previous years".

The elder Duterte is the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte.