More than 28,000 informal sector workers affected by recent typhoons in the National Capital Region (NCR) have benefited from the emergency employment assistance by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“In the NCR, some 28,505 workers were given emergency employment under TUPAD. Our target beneficiaries are 128,000 workers,” Undersecretary Anna Dione said in Laging Handa briefing on Thursday.

TUPAD is the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

Aside from the emergency employment assistance, Dione said DOLE would also provide livelihood assistance to residents affected by Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses.

“We are conducting (an) assessment on the areas affected on how we will be able to provide them with livelihood programs,” she said, adding that they would coordinate with local government units regarding the livelihood assistance.

Meanwhile, the DOLE is also looking to provide emergency employment to some 40,000 workers in Bicol who were displaced by the successive typhoons that hit the region.

In a statement, it said it has allocated nearly PHP500 million for the six provinces that have been badly affected by “Rolly” and “Ulysses” – Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III visited Legazpi, Albay last weekend and ordered expedited profiling and payment of some 40,000 worker-beneficiaries across Bicol.

Under TUPAD, beneficiaries were given emergency employment and were paid the minimum wage in their respective areas. (PNA)