P6.8 million disbursed for TUPAD workers in Cebu City, Naga

CEBU, Philippines —  At least P6.8 million has been released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) for the 1,559 beneficiaries of its cash for work program in the cities of Cebu and Naga.

The labor department said there were 1,221 beneficiaries of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD in Cebu City while 338 from the City of Naga.

DOLE-7 director Salome Siaton said the beneficiaries were paid through their partner money remittance center using the reference codes provided to them.

Aside from their salary, TUPAD workers were also provided with personal protective equipment and Group Personal Accident Insurance (GPAI) of the Government Service Insurance System for one year. Emmanuel Ferrer, head of Tri-City Field Office, said that TUPAD workers in Cebu City worked for 10 days and each received P4,040.

The TUPAD workers in Cebu City came from 64 barangays. Their job involves disinfecting and sanitizing public areas in their respective barangay.

In the City of Naga, Cebu Provincial Field Office officer in-charge Vivencio Lagahid said that TUPAD workers worked for 14 days by doing sanitation activities in their community and each beneficiary received a total of P5,656.

Siaton added that other field offices like in Negros Oriental, Siqujior and Bohol, also facilitated the release of the reference codes to the TUPAD beneficiaries in their respective areas. 

Meanwhile, a total of identified 1,714 TUPAD beneficiaries from Barangays Sabang, Tungasan, Tingo, Mactan, Calawisan, Ibo, Basak, Bankal and Maribago in Lapu-Lapu City have undergone a pre-assessment process under DOLE-7 in coordination with the Office of Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Paz Radaza.

The pre-assessment from DOLE-7 will identify each beneficiary whether they are qualified or not before they can get through the next step for orientation and then start earning cash for work.

The pre-assessment was conducted from June 29, 2022 to July 5, 2021. 

TUPAD program is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced and disadvantaged workers. — FPL (FREEMAN)