The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated a total of PHP107.6 million in Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) funds which will benefit more than 25,000 residents in Ilocos Region.

DOLE has initially allocated PHP2.3 million in TUPAD funding for Ilocos Norte and PHP13.9 million for Ilocos Sur, said DOLE Ilocos Region information officer Justin Marbella.

An additional PHP14 million in TUPAD funds have been earmarked for Ilocos Norte and PHP5.3 million for Ilocos Sur, which both provinces were placed in a state of calamity following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Egay.

Also, DOLE will implement a PHP10 million TUPAD program in La Union and PHP60 million in Pangasinan.

The remaining funds, meanwhile, were allocated for workers’ insurance and personal protective equipment (PPEs).

“TUPAD workers in these provinces, who have been engaged in this program earlier this year, are now eligible to become beneficiaries again. Under the guidelines, an individual can only become a TUPAD worker once a year, except when the community is hit by calamity or disaster,” DOLE said in a statement.

DOLE added that other local government units in Pangasinan and La Union which were also placed under a state of calamity will be prioritized for TUPAD implementation.

Under the TUPAD programs, workers will render a 10-day community work, for which they will be paid P4,000 or PHP400 a day.

“Depending on the program of works but yes they usually do community cleaning and maintenance of public facilities. Yes, the barangay may also ask them to clean in public schools,” Marbella said when asked about the specific work the beneficiaries would do.

The program is part of the post-typhoon rehabilitation effort of the national government. (PNA)