146 Iloilo delivery riders get TUPAD school jobs

ILOILO CITY — A total of 146 Grab and Foodpanda delivery riders in Iloilo City have been tapped for temporary government employment in public schools under the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

The riders attended a TUPAD orientation on Sept. 12 at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand as part of efforts to provide temporary income assistance to workers in need.

Under the program, the beneficiaries are being deployed to selected public schools in Iloilo City to undertake community-based activities focused on the cleanliness, maintenance and improvement of school facilities.

The work provides the riders with temporary income while helping improve school environments for students.

The initiative is being implemented by the DOLE Iloilo Field Office, headed by Dr. Arlyn Siaotong.

It also forms part of DOLE Western Visayas’ implementation of employment programs under Regional Director Sixto “Popoy” Rodriguez Jr. and Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino.

DOLE describes TUPAD as a community-based emergency employment program for displaced, underemployed and seasonal workers, including projects involving the repair, maintenance and improvement of public facilities such as schools and health centers.

The department updated its TUPAD guidelines in March 2026 to provide beneficiaries with links to skills training and employment opportunities after receiving temporary assistance.

For the 146 food delivery riders, the program provides temporary income while giving them an opportunity to contribute to the upkeep of public schools.

Their deployment also highlights how emergency employment programs can combine short-term income support with community-based work that benefits public facilities.

DOLE reported that 734,364 workers nationwide received temporary employment through TUPAD in the first half of 2026, backed by PHP 5.55 billion in assistance. (DOLE)