Over 2,000 typhoon-hit informal workers receive TUPAD assistance

A P9,490,214 emergency employment assistance was immediately provided to 2,369 informal workers in Western Visayas whose livelihoods were affected by Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

Due to its urgency, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr. directed all DOLE field offices to coordinate with partner local government units and hasten the implementation of the emergency employment assistance through TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers.

“We cannot bear to see the situation of those affected workers whose houses and livelihood were ravaged by the typhoon,” Atty. Rodriguez said.

“Our Field Offices and TUPAD coordinators are processing the necessary requirements in the shortest time possible so that the beneficiaries can utilize the assistance intended for them the soonest.”

A P3,950 daily wage for 10 days of work and an insurance coverage will benefit each of 711 workers from the local government units of Ilog (150), Cauayan (100), Kabankalan (100), Sipalay (161), Candoni (100) and Hinoba-an (100) in Negros Occidental which has the most number of affected workers in the region.

The same assistance was also provided to beneficiaries from other provinces who performed community work such as clearing the areas affected by the typhoon.

Iloilo Province listed 545 beneficiaries from the southern town of San Joaquin.

TUPAD assistance also reached 405 vulnerable workers from two municipalities of Antique, Tibiao (223) and San Remigio (172).

Capiz has 260 marginalized workers assisted from the municipalities of Pres. Roxas (90), Maayon (85) and Panay (85).

The Mmunicipalities of New Washington and Buruanga in Aklan has 154 each or a total of 308 beneficiaries.

In the province of Guimaras, 142 vulnerable workers were assisted in the municipalities of Buenavista, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo and Sibunag.

Rodriguez said that the wages of the workers could be used to buy materials for the repair of their homes or for their basic needs.

He added that aside from the emergency assistance for Typhoon Odette victims, the Regional Office continuously implements TUPAD and other livelihood programs for qualified and deserving members of the informal sector to assist their economic condition while the country is recovering from the effect of the pandemic and other calamities.