ZAMBOANGA CITY — Some 571 displaced workers in the town of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province received their salaries under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 on February 25, 2021. 

Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe said that the payout was made possible through the help of DOLE’s Accredited Co-Partner (ACP) Risen Christ Parish Multi-purpose Cooperative (RPCMPC).

“Our ACP identified the beneficiaries who are in dire need of emergency employment, most of whom are from the tourism sector. Before the pandemic, most of them worked as boat service workers, tourist guides, transport workers, vendors and even fisherfolks,” Dir. Buenafe shared. 

Under the TUPAD Program, the beneficiaries worked for 15 days on sanitation and disinfection activities to fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the communities and curb local transmission. 

Each worker received the total amount of Php 4,740.00 following the minimum wage rate in Region 9 of PHP 316.00 per day.

Aside from the wages, they also received personal protection equipment and micro-insurance from the GSIS for the duration of their service. 

DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office headed by Officer-in-Charge Elamsalih E. Ungad witnessed the payout which the RCPMPC facilitated. 

The TUPAD Program 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. END