IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office IX (DOLE 9) through its Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (ZSFO) granted emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program to a total of 255 underemployed workers from municipalities of Ipil, Kabasalan, Naga and Siay.

Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo shared that the community-based package of assistance amounted to ₱ 980,000.00 which aimed to provide Emergency Employment to the distressed workers especially those who have lost their livelihoods because of natural or man-made disasters.

The aim of the TUPAD Program is to enable vulnerable sectors and disaster- stricken workers and their families rebuild their lives, with better access to social protection and sustainable income sources.

Of the total number, some 153 workers were tasked to do repair, maintenance and/ or improvement of public facilities as well as de-clogging of canals. The remaining 102 worked on agro- forestry projects in Kabasalan and Naga.

The package of assistance consisted of an orientation on safety and health, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as working hats, work gloves, working towels and long- sleeved TUPAD t-shirt, payment of micro-insurance premiums for the duration of work contract and payment of wages based on the prevailing wage rate. END/With reports from Arian Labiano, GIP-ZSFO