President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been successfully providing emergency employment for workers who are disadvantaged by calamities and other social circumstances.
Under the President’s guidance and leadership, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has strengthened the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD), which the government rolled out in 2009.
A component of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) which is the government initiative for social protection, the TUPAD program is a community-based initiative that gives short-term emergency employment for disadvantaged workers.
Employment is given in infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects to clear debris, rebuild roads and shelters, work on reforestation, coastal resource management, and other temporary work.
During the Labor Day with the President program in Malacañang last May 1, President Marcos said, “As I speak, the TUPAD cash assistance and livelihood benefits are being distributed to hundreds of thousands of workers.”
Highlights of implementation
2024
November 21 – The government released PHP210 million in aid under TUPAD for typhoon recovery in Camarines Sur. The DOLE initially distributed PHP14.6 million to 3,463 workers who participated in community rehabilitation, such as clearing operations and cleanup of public spaces. They each received PHP3,950 plus personal protective equipment for 10 days’ work. The DOLE also distributed aid to 1,307 workers in Albay during an initial payout. Each beneficiary also received PHP3,950 for 10 days’ work that included street and sidewalk sweeping, cleaning of public facilities, and community gardening.
Fe Calacday, a beneficiary from Barangay Mabolo in Naga City, thanked the Marcos government for coming to their aid.
“Ang aking asawa po ay nagtatrabaho bilang on-call driver. Tatlong beses kada linggo lang siya may trabaho – PHP450 ang bayad sa kaniya kada biyahe. Mahirap mapagkasya [ang kaniyang kita para] sa amin. Noong bagyong Kristine, almost two weeks, wala pong trabaho kasi mataas ang baha. Noong may naglista ng TUPAD, isinali ako. In-assign kaming maglinis. Ang kita namin ay PHP3,950, base sa minimum na PHP395 [daily for 10 days]. Malaking tulong ang TUPAD kaya po nagpapasalamat kami, kasi merong proyekto ang gobyerno na nagbigay sa amin ng extra na pagkakakitaan.”
November 20 – President Marcos Jr. and Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma distributed TUPAD aid to typhoon-affected workers in Catanduanes. The initial batch of 48 workers from Panganiban town each received PHP5,925 for 15 days’ service. A total of PHP47.9 million was allocated for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of affected communities. Aid distribution was completed before December 2024. The beneficiaries participated in community development projects, such as cleanup, community-based farming, planting of disaster-resilient crops, and repacking of relief goods.
Elvie M. Agripa, a 47-year-old resident of Panganiban, said, “Itong pera na aming natanggap ay malaking bagay para sa aming pamilya. Maraming salamat po sa patuloy na suporta at malasakit mula kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. lalo na sa panahon ng aming pangangailangan.”
November 20 – President Marcos Jr. distributed PHP20 million TUPAD aid for 3,895 typhoon victims in Ilocos Norte.
October 31 – The DOLE set aside PHP424 million for 72,714 workers affected by the typhoon in the Calabarzon region. The beneficiaries worked for 10 days in community clean-up, debris clearing, and rehabilitation of public infrastructures from October to November 2024. They were paid using the minimum wage rate in the region.
September 12 – TUPAD Beneficiaries in San Andres, Romblon, helped build a temporary bridge to link a remote barangay to the town to enable the smooth transport of goods and movement of people after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina damaged the bridge.
August 7 – The DOLE distributed PHP6.125 million to 1,178 fisherfolk affected by Typhoon Carina and the oil spill from the MT Terra Nova in Tanza, Cavite.
May 13 – Around 700 residents of Alaminos, Pangasinan who were in a crisis, dependents of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), as well as parolees and probationers, were beneficiaries of TUPAD. They joined the cleanup of the Hundred Islands National Park and declogged the town’s creeks and riverway.
2023
September 23 – President Marcos Jr. witnessed the release of PHP8.6 million aid to 2,122 TUPAD beneficiaries from the 3rd, 4th and 5th districts of Camarines Sur during the simultaneous national launching of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair’ at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) Auditorium.
September 4 – A total of 161 senior citizens and 12 persons with disabilities (PWDs) were among the 4,877 recipients of PHP24 million in TUPAD aid in Nueva Vizcaya. They each received PHP6,300 for 15 days of rendering community service such as declogging of canals and helping in the “Sustainable Gardening” project.
July 1 –The DOLE extended TUPAD aid to workers tapped by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for its flood control and ‘Brigada Eskwela’ programs. They cleaned public schools, planted ornamental plants, and cleared esteros and canals.
July 17 – Around 748 residents of Guinobatan, Albay, who were displaced by the Mayon Volcano eruption each received PHP10,950 as salary for 30 days’ work under TUPAD. They worked on vegetable gardening, food preparation, and maintained cleanliness and order in the evacuation center.
Edna Ocbina, a 68 year-old beneficiary, said, “Nagpapasalamat po ako at nabigyan ng oportunidad na makapagtrabaho dito sa TUPAD. May mga ibinigay sa aming punla ng gulay dito sa evacuation center, kaya kami ay nakakapagtanim pa rin kahit senior citizen na ako at nasa evacuation center.”
The local government of Guinobatan was also awarded PHP4.9 million for 1,248 beneficiaries under TUPAD.
July 13 – 218 TUPAD beneficiaries cleaned the river and public market in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. They received PHP6,300 each for 15 days’ work.
May 16 – 60 former rebels were provided emergency employment as they returned to the fold of the law. The program supported a project of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
March 30 – The DOLE distributed PHP4.6 million to 1,078 beneficiaries from the 13 municipalities of Bohol. Each received PHP4,350 for 10 days of community work like road and street cleaning.
January 27 – In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 35 TUPAD beneficiaries were tapped to augment a bamboo reforestation project and promotion of the bamboo business industry in Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. Moreover, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DOLE tapped TUPAD beneficiaries for the National Greening Program.
2022
December 18 – 935 workers from six towns of Cagayan received TUPAD pay. Earlier, 5,493 workers received theirs, as more than PHP22 million in funds were disbursed in Tuguegarao City and the municipalities of Amulung, Iguig, Peñablanca, Enrile, and Solana. The beneficiaries rendered 10 days’ community work through cleanup and beautification of public facilities in barangays.
October. 13 – The DOLE tapped TUPAD beneficiaries for the Forest Protection Program in Cebu in partnership with the DENR. They were tasked for seedling production, establishing plantations, and assisting in forest protection activities.
Encompassing assistance
For this year, DOLE has provided salaries to 3.19 million individuals under the TUPAD program. A total of 514,435 beneficiaries were from communities affected by calamities with PHP2.599B worth of assistance provided.
Emergency employment and more
Amid typhoons, volcanic eruptions, oil spill, and other circumstances in the country, the TUPAD program has proven crucial in aiding affected workers and helping them recover.
Building a bridge, cleaning rivers and creeks, greening the surroundings, guarding the forest, promoting productivity among PDLs, undertaking flood prevention steps, and maintaining cleanliness in schools are some of TUPAD’s contributions to communities. The work is diverse and extensive, further enhancing the program as not just an aid effort but also one that is socially relevant.
Indeed, the Marcos Jr. administration has marshalled the DOLE TUPAD program to provide emergency employment to disadvantaged and displaced workers. At the same time, the people earn while rebuilding their communities devastated by the calamities. (PNA)
