DOLE exec recalled over TUPAD anomaly

MANILA, Philippines — A field officer of the Department of Labor and Employment has been recalled to the DOLE National Capital Region office to shed light on alleged irregularities in the distribution of cash aid under the government’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Joel Petaca has a lot of explaining to do in connection with the allegedly anomalous cash-for-work program.

“I want to know why he allowed such problems to happen in the implementation of the TUPAD program in Quezon City. He was supposed to monitor the program. Was he negligent?” Bello said.

The DOLE previously suspended the implementation of the TUPAD program in Quezon City’s Districts 1, 2 and 5 following complaints of corruption from the beneficiaries.

About 100 Quezon City residents have complained that they did not receive the cash aid in full. Reports of ghost beneficiaries were also brought to the attention of authorities.

The DOLE is waiting for the result of the probe conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation on the allleged anomaly, according to Bello.

“Once all the reports are in, we will definitely go after the people involved in the scam,” he said.

Bello has said those behind the supposed anomaly pocketed as much as P40 million, prompting him to suspend the cash-for-work program in Quezon City.

The specific TUPAD program in Barangay Holy Spirit was reportedly implemented by the DOLE in partnership with the office of Quezon City District 2 Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo.