Olango locals get aid from DOLE, DSWD

CEBU, Philippines — Residents of Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City who are beneficiaries of an assistance program of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development received their benefits recently.

Residents of San Vicente, Tingo and Caw-oy who are beneficiaries of the cash for work program of DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) received 14 days’ worth of salary.

Each beneficiary received a total of P5,656 as his/her salary for the 14 days of work rendered in helping their own barangay.

The distribution of the salaries was spearheaded by Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza.

TUPAD 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 to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

Radaza said she has been working for the wider implementation of the program given its benefits to her constituents, especially during the pandemic.

“Nindot gyud ni ang TUPAD program sa DOLE. Aside sa makatabang sila sa ilang komunidad, makadawat sad ang atong mga kaigsoonan og sweldo para naa silay ikapalit sa mga panginahanglanon sa ilang pamilya. Busa, naningkamot gyud ko nga madugangan ang funding gikan didto sa kauluhan para diri sa Lapu-Lapu City,” Radaza said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 724 residents of Barangays Talima, San Vicente, Baring, Tingo, Sabang and Santa Rosa who are beneficiaries of DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program also received financial assistance of P1,500.

Those who benefitted were boatmen, fishermen, and other low-income earners.

Radaza said the pandemic has affected the beneficiaries’ livelihood. The financial assistance, she said, would help them buy their daily needs.

In 2020, DSWD-7 assisted 325,651 individuals in Region 7 who received educational, medical, transportation, burial, food and non-food assistance amounting to P984 million under the AICS program.

Radaza led the distribution of fiber glass boats or “baruto” and fishnets to selected fishermen in the barangays of Caohagan and Pangan-an.

“Nindot sad kaayo ni atong mga beneficiaries kay sila gyud mismo ang mobuhat ani ilang mga fish net. Mopalit lang og materyales og sila nay bahala nga mo assemble according sa standard niini. Busa ako malipayon kaayo ko nga makakita ani nila nga nagkugi gyud aron mabuhi ilang mga pamilya. Mao ni gitawag og humanity in times of crisis,” Radaza further said. — JMD (FREEMAN)