The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Negros Oriental has released almost PHP140 million worth of government assistance to 18,525 beneficiaries in the province for the first semester of the year, an official said Tuesday.

Raizza Phoebe Rubia, DOLE-Negros Oriental focal person for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD), told the Philippine News Agency that the financial assistance covered the period January to June this year.

“Of the amount, more than PHP132 million were for wages and the rest for personal protective equipment (PPE) and GSIS Group Personal Accident Insurance (GPAI),” Rubia said.

PPE includes long-sleeved shirts and ball caps to protect the beneficiaries while at work in the field while the GPAI also assures they are insured for the duration of their temporary employment, she added.

The 1st district of Negros Oriental received the largest share of the TUPAD payouts, amounting to over PHP60 million, while the rest of the amount was distributed to the 2nd and 3rd districts.

Meanwhile, Rubia said they received an instruction from the regional office on Tuesday that PHP14 million of TUPAD aid is allocated for seven local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental for the second semester of this year.

The seven LGUs to receive PHP2 million each are Bindoy, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Tayasan, Ayungon, Basay, and Siaton.

Rubia said they will coordinate with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) managers of these towns to facilitate the identification of the beneficiaries before the money can be downloaded through the DOLE. (PNA)