Cebu City, Philippines (09 May 2023). The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) released over Php115 Million Pesos worth of TUPAD wages and livelihood assistance to beneficiaries on May 1.

The amount, according to DOLE-7 Regional Director, Lilia A. Estillore, benefited 19,894 workers in the formal and informal sectors from all over Central Visayas.

“We’ve dedicated a portion of our 2023 Labor Day celebration for the distribution of government assistance to beneficiaries. And for the simultaneous celebrations taking place in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental, workers both from the formal and informal sectors gathered together to celebrate the big day for the workers,” she said.

Under the Livelihood Program, DOLE-7 released around Php32.3 Million benefiting 1,894 workers coming from Cebu Province; cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapulapu; Negros Oriental; and Siquijor.

Some of the livelihood undertakings of beneficiaries funded by DOLE-7 are the following:

  • Chili Powder Production and Farming;
  • Turmeric Powder Production and Marketing;
  • Cattle Fattening and Breeding;
  • Agrivet Supply Trading;
  • Egg Laying Production and Marketing;
  • General Merchandizing;
  • Payaw Fishing;
  • Computer Shop and Printing Services;
  • Upland Tilapia Fish Culture;
  • Native Chicken Production;
  • Ice Production and Storage;
  • Bakeshop;
  • Hog Raising;
  • Bigasan;
  • Internet Cafe;
  • Vulcanizing Shop; and
  • Buko Juice Selling.

Under the TUPAD or the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged (TUPAD) Workers program, DOLE-7 shelled out Php82.8 Million as payment for the wages of around 18,045 beneficiaries, who mostly worked for the following community projects:

  • Clean-Up Drive;
  • Disinfection and Sanitation Activities;
  • Street Sweeping;
  • Cutting of bushes and grasses; and
  • De-clogging of canals.

The distribution of government assistance took place at the following venues last May 1: Hoops Dome, Lapulapu City, Cebu; Bohol Quality Atrium, Tagbilaran City, Bohol; and at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

“We gave premium to distributing the wages of the TUPAD workers and livelihood assistance of beneficiaries in a timely manner last May 1. That is our way of honoring their efforts and the hard work they’ve put in their respective aspirations to earn more, augment their standard of living and eventually become financially self-reliant,” added Director Estillore.

As part of the distribution of government assistance, TESDA-7 also distributed their Starter Tool Kits to their scholar-beneficiaries at the Hoops Dome, Lapulapu City, where Cebu’s 2023 Labor Day Commemorative Program was held.

The Livelihood Program and TUPAD are two important components of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment (DILEEP) that seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce the vulnerability of the poor and marginalized workers either through transitional emergency employment and promotion of livelihood and entrepreneurship.

 

End//LSenarlo-Taniza

For more information on this report, you may contact LuchelSenarloTaniza, Regional Labor Information Officer, by sending an email at ro7@dole.gov.ph.