Some 405 individuals affected by the devastation of Typhoon Tino in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental are set to receive PHP2.227 million in total wages under the TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

They are from Barangay Santol, 258 beneficiaries, PHP1.419 million; Barangay Amontay, 56 beneficiaries, PHP308,000; Barangay Bagroy, 46 beneficiaries, PHP253,000; and Barangay Canmoros, 45 beneficiaries, PHP247,500.

Negros Occidental Public Employment Service Office head Karen Dinsay said on Wednesday the barangays were selected as they were the most affected and also upon the recommendation of the Municipal Agriculture Office.

“The beneficiaries underwent orientation and are now on the second day of their assignments,” she said.

The village chiefs of the four barangays received the checks for the TUPAD wages from Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, in the presence of DOLE-Negros Occidental TUPAD focal person Ma. Victoria Diwata Borines, at the Provincial Capitol here on March 2.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance providing emergency employment, and the recipient-barangay is considered the accredited co-partner of the DOLE responsible for the direct delivery of services to the target beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries are provided with work for a period of 10 days for which the DOLE pays them based on the daily minimum wage of PHP550, or a total of PHP5,500 each.

Borines said they are required to work for at least four hours a day on assignments endorsed by their respective barangays, such as declogging of canals, clearing of debris, and coastal clean-up.

Santol village chief Roger Dorimon said among the beneficiaries are indigenous people and farmers who lost their crops during the typhoon.

“They are assigned to clear canals and rivers, and other areas still need to be cleared after the typhoon,” he added. (PNA)