ZAMBOANGA CITY– A total of 100 pedicab drivers benefitted from the Department of Labor and Employment IX (DOLE 9) Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program in partnership with the Office of Congressman Ceasar “Jawo” L. Jimenez, 1st District Representative of Zamboanga City.Atty. Roy L. Buenafe, DOLE 9 Regional Director, said that the assistance is taken from the Bayanihan To Recover as One Act 2 fund downloaded to the Regional Office.

Congressman Jimenez said that five barangays will be pilot tested namely Ayala, Recodo, Tumaga, Sta. Maria and San Roque. Each barangay will have a total of 20 beneficiaries who are pedicab drivers.

Instead of performing the usual clean and green activities, pedicab drivers will serve as a special carpool service for the frontline workers at their barangay for four hours a day – conveying frontline workers to and from their residences and workplaces.

Under the program, beneficiaries will be paid a daily salary equal to the region’s minimum wage rate for 15 days. They will also be provided with personal protective equipment (PPEs) and accident insurance for one year.

A TUPAD and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Orientation was conducted on November 28 and 30, 2020 in Ayala and Sta. Maria respectively.

Dir. Buenafe thanked Cong. Jimenez for the funds downloaded to DOLE to implement TUPAD. He shared that through the TUPAD Program, the 100 pedicab beneficiaries will have a happier Christmas. END/Karen Claire Grafia with reports from Joni Sarina M. Mejico