Over 7,000 TUPAD workers join Iloilo cleanup drive

Some 7,346 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers beneficiaries in Iloilo City were mobilized for a citywide cleanup drive, tree planting, and communal gardening under a convergence initiative led by the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Iloilo City Lone District Representative Julienne Baronda.

The TUPAD assistance package amounting to PHP 43,702,925 was allocated for workers’ daily wages of PHP 550 for 10 days of community service, as well as for personal protective equipment and group personal accident insurance.

The workers carried out roadside cleaning and clearing, canal declogging, coastal cleanup, and land preparation for communal gardens, with the Department of Agriculture providing vegetable seeds, seedlings, and fertilizers.

The initiative aims to provide residents with temporary income opportunities while promoting a cleaner environment ahead of the Christmas season and New Year celebrations.

In addition to earning PHP 5,500 in wages, beneficiaries involved in communal gardening are expected to benefit from homegrown produce that can help meet daily food needs and reduce household expenses.

DOLE Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. expressed strong support for the collaboration, emphasizing that community-based projects under TUPAD continue to provide beneficiaries with opportunities to help promote cleanliness at the local level.

Officials present during the launch included Iloilo City Vice Mayor Julie Grace Baronda, Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog, DA Western Visayas Officer in Charge–Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Maria Teresa Solis, and DOLE Regional Office 6 Iloilo Field Office Head Dr. Arlyn E. Siaotong.