Over 1,000 informal sector workers were briefed on the features of the Tulong Panghanabuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program (TUPAD) through a series of orientations in the 3rd District of Zamboanga del Norte.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 through the Liloy Satellite Office led the activities in partnership with various partners in concerned local government units.

A total of five program orientations were held from May 11 to May 26, 2021 in the following municipalities: Labason, Gutalac, Salug, Liloy and Tampilisan.

Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe said that the allotted budget for the implementation of the program has already been downloaded to the respective local government units that are DOLE’s Accredited Co-Partners.

“We are looking to employ 316 beneficiaries per municipality which is quite a large number and will definitely need the cooperation of the LGU when it comes to program monitoring,” Director Buenafe added.

The participants learned the guidelines of the program such as that the emergency employment is an intervention to the informal sector workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Beneficiaries are to work for 4 hours a day in a span of 15 days doing sanitation and disinfection activities in the community to help lessen the spread of COVID-19. They will earn 316 pesos per day patterned after the Region’s minimum wage.

It was also emphasized that Health and Safety protocols to curb COVID-19 shall be strictly followed throughout the TUPAD implementation.DOLE will also provide Personal Protective Equipment composed of TUPAD sweatshirt, face mask and hand gloves to prevent the possible risk of exposure to COVID-19.

After the 15-days work, the LGUs will schedule a TUPAD Payout, where the beneficiaries will receive their wages.

TUPAD is a component of DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), which is a community-based (municipality/barangay) package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and unemployed poor for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

KCQG with a report from DOLE LSO