The government is seeking PHP11.03 billion for the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program in 2027, which aims to provide temporary employment and income support to 672,776 disadvantaged and displaced workers nationwide.

TUPAD provides community-based emergency employment to disadvantaged and displaced workers, allowing them to earn wages through temporary public and community work when regular sources of income are disrupted.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the 2027 program provides longer support for qualified long-term beneficiaries, increasing the prescribed work period from 20 to 45 days.

Support for personal protective equipment (PPE) will also increase from PHP350 to PHP400 per beneficiary.

In his budget message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the role of emergency and community-based employment in helping families withstand sudden economic shocks.

“Through emergency and community-based employment, the program helps Filipino families cope with economic disruptions, recover from disasters, and address other unforeseen challenges while earning a dignified source of livelihood,” Marcos said.

Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon, meanwhile, said the real measure of TUPAD is not just the number of temporary jobs the government can provide, but whether these opportunities can help workers move toward more sustainable livelihoods.

“Hindi dapat matapos ang tulong kapag natapos ang TUPAD (Assistance should not end when the TUPAD program ends),” De Leon said.

“Dapat itong magsilbing tulay habang tinutulungan ang manggagawa na makahanap ng mas matatag na trabaho o kabuhayan sa pamamagitan ng livelihood programs, internships, skills training, at employment services (It should serve as a bridge while helping workers find more stable employment or livelihoods through livelihood programs, internships, skills training, and employment services),” De Leon said.

This is consistent with DOLE’s improved TUPAD framework, which links beneficiaries to skills training, employment facilitation, livelihood assistance, and other opportunities to help them transition to more sustainable sources of income.

“Ang TUPAD ay agarang suporta kapag nawalan ng pagkakakitaan, pero ang mas malaking layunin natin ay tulungan silang makarating sa susunod na oportunidad (TUPAD provides immediate support when a source of livelihood is lost, but our broader goal is to help beneficiaries reach the next opportunity). Temporary work should be a bridge — not a dead end,” De Leon said. (PNA)