DOLE releases P4.3-M aid to workers

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) distributed P4,353,600 in financial assistance to 907 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) from nine barangays here yesterday.

The financial assistance payout took place during the DOLE Kalayaan Job Fair at SM City Bacolod, in celebration of Independence Day.

The amount is part of the P157.2 million TUPAD assistance allocated to 29,996 informal workers in Western Visayas, targeting mostly underserved, unserved, and hard-to-reach sectors of society.

The TUPAD beneficiaries in Bacolod are from Barangays 1, 2, 3, 11, 15, 17, 18, 33, and 37. Barangay 1 received P513,600, benefiting 107 recipients, while the remaining barangays each received P480,000 for their 800 recipients.

Meanwhile, job seekers applied for approximately 6,895 local jobs and 1,595 opportunities abroad during the job fair. According to DOLE-Western Visayas, 45 applicants were hired on the spot as of 12:40 p.m., June 12.

A total of 56 local companies and two government agencies offered various local employment positions, such as customer service and technical support representatives, delivery riders, promodizers, cashiers, and checkers. Additionally, companies sought carpenters, masons, and bus drivers.

For employment abroad, five local companies sought continuing care assistants, welders, electricians, carpenters, restaurant workers, staff nurses, concrete workers, construction helpers, nurse specialists, and painters.

In a statement, lawyer Sixto Rodriguez Jr., DOLE-Western Visayas director, expressed gratitude for the job opportunities provided by various companies.

“Our combined effort of providing employment and livelihood is our way of alleviating their economic condition,” he added.