3,522 workers get aid from DOLE

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas has disbursed a total of P7.6 million for the 3,522 beneficiaries of Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in the region.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton said the disbursed funds covered the salaries and wages of beneficiaries working in the different provinces in the region as of November 19, 2020.

Of the P7.6 million, Siaton said, P7.18 million went to the salaries of beneficiaries, while P368,816 went to the beneficiaries’ Group Personal Accident Insurance coverage of the Government Service Insurance System.

Of the 3,522 beneficiaries, 1,882 are in Cebu Province; 800 in Mandaue City; 200 in Cebu City; 397 in Negros Oriental; 177 in Siquijor; and 65 in Bohol.

“This program is the DOLE’s contribution to the government’s pursuit of a whole-of-nation approach in the implementation of recovery and rehabilitation measures to cushion the pandemic’s impact on the economy and society under Bayanihan 2,” said Siaton in a statement.

Siaton said the disbursed salaries covered the first five days of their 14-day work period while the remaining nine days will be paid once work is completed.

For the P14-day work period, Siaton said, each beneficiary is entitled to receive P5,656 or P404 per day.

Siaton said some of the beneficiaries have already claimed their salaries through DOLE’s partner money remittance center, as the agency ensured to support the commitment of DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III to start releasing TUPAD salaries by November 15, 2020.

According to DOLE-7, the beneficiaries work for four hours each day for 14 days for any of the following: delivery of essential goods and services; packing of relief goods and other related tasks assigned by the local government units; preparation, design, dissemination, posting of information and educational materials especially in the rural areas; transport services for setting up of mobile markets; and disinfection/sanitation of community and other public facilities.

Under TUPAD, workers in the informal sector particularly the unpaid family workers and self-employed workers with elementary occupations who were displaced or whose earnings were affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be provided with temporary wage employment.

Siaton added that the program is giving priority to the workers, who applied on or before April 30, 2020, in the informal sector affected by the pandemic.

The TUPAD beneficiaries are those not assisted under the Bayanihan I which includes the TUPAD Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (#BKBK) Disinfection/Sanitation Project and TUPAD as post-enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)-intervention.

As of September 2020, a total of 28,742 informal sector workers in Central Visayas benefited from the said program. — KQD (FREEMAN)