Over 10,000 marginalized workers have received cash aid from the first congressional district office of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment.
Duterte’s office said the workers were identified beneficiaries of the Labor department’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) since 2022.
Duterte’s office recorded 11,019 beneficiaries received their TUPAD payout since October 2022, including the 580 beneficiaries—vendors, tailors, school maintenance, hair stylists/barbers, and cobbler, among others—who received the assistance recently.
Duterte hopes “the TUPAD program can help the beneficiaries’ families during the challenging times, encouraging them to continually support the government’s efforts to provide programs for disadvantaged and displaced workers.” The First District Office and DOLE profiled the beneficiaries. Maricel V. Cruz
TUPAD is a community–based package of assistance that offers emergency service for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for at least 10 days, but not more than 30 days, depending on the nature of their work.
Most workers – primarily displaced and disadvantaged, unemployed, and senior citizens – from the informal sector will work on tree planting, community gardening, reforestation, road cleaning, drainage/canal de-clogging, community clean-up, and refurbishment of tourist attractions.
Duterte said his office in tie up with the DOLE will continue to support those who are in need. “The DOLE also guaranteed that the TUPAD program will continue to implement its flagship emergency employment program for distressed workers despite a limited budget,” Duterte said.