IPIL, ZSP – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 9 thru its Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (ZSFO) has released PHP 5,102,920.00 in total assistance under the TUPAD or Tulong Para sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program to 610 residents of Siay, Titay, Alicia, Imelda, Sanito, Buug and Taway Municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay Province.

Director Ofelia B. Domingo, the Regional Head of DOLE 9, said the TUPAD is an emergency employment program that seeks to enable disaster-stricken families to recover from calamities, and to have better access to social protection and sustainable income sources. She added that some of the beneficiaries are farmers whose farmlands were struck by torrential rains and severe flooding which rendered them jobless.

Each worker was employed for 10 days in community clean and green projects such as street sweeping and de-clogging of canals.

The DOLE budget covers the beneficiaries’ salaries worth Php 296.00 per day based on the prevailing minimum wage rate in Region 9, micro-insurance premium for 1 year and personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as rubber boots, buri hats and long-sleeved shirts bearing the DOLE logo.

In addition, DOLE ZSFO in partnership with Provincial Government Office in Zamboanga Sibugay, also launched the TUPAD Program at the PGO’s Center Podium which will benefit ninety (90) beneficiaries with a budget PHP 860,000.00.

The workers will be employed for thirty (30) days to construct Christmas Icons/decorations in line with the upcoming celebration of the Christmas Season. Prior to work engagement, they were oriented on basic Occupational Safety and Health on October 9, 2017.

With reports from Corazon P. Fallorin, ZSFO and Annie Rose Cordova, Outsourced Personnel, TSSD.