Displaced workers to get aid – DOLE

MANILA, Philippines — Displaced workers in Metro Manila and other regions will continue to receive assistance from the government, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the DOLE is committed to deliver employment programs to workers affected by the pandemic.

Bello said they extended the hiring of contact tracers for local government units in Metro Manila to provide jobs to more people.

The DOLE also intensified the implementation of its TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program, which provides temporary employment to those who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

“I am happy to see how the government, through DOLE, is able to bring assistance and relief to our workers,” Bello said.

The DOLE has released a total of P6.37 million in wages to 1,419 informal sector workers in Ormoc City.

Of the number of beneficiaries, 1,080 workers received P4,875 each as payment for their 15-day service. The rest were paid P3,250 each for completing a 10-day TUPAD program.

TUPAD is a community-based assistance program that provides jobs for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers for a minimum of 10 days but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.