SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 1 had partnered with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bring the government emergency employment program to geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in the region.
The initiative is in line with the directive of Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma to enable the DOLE programs, specifically the TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, reach the grassroots and the fringes of the society.
TUPAD, which is the DOLE’s flagship program, is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of work.
“We have forged stronger ties with the PNP Region 1 as we recognize their authority and mastery in navigating these territories less traveled,” said DOLE Region 1 Director Exequiel Ronie A. Guzman.
In the Ilocos region, GIDAs are usually located in the upland areas that are hard to reach. Likewise, these communities are also challenged by threats of local communist armed conflict.
“DOLE alone could not bring these valuable programs like TUPAD to the outskirts due to security risks. This was where the assistance of PNP was deemed necessary,” said RD Guzman.
The DOLE-PNP partnership was piloted at the La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO) through the leadership of police Colonel Lambert Suerte.
In December 2022, LUPPO assisted DOLE La Union Field Office in the conduct of profiling, payouts, and other activities related to TUPAD.