CEBU CITY, Cebu Aug. 27 (PIA) –- Around 4,000 workers from three local government units (LGUs) in Cebu received their financial assistance and wages from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
On the second day of his visit in Southern Cebu, Labor Sec. Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III personally distributed the reference codes of the beneficiaries under the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged” (TUPAD) workers in the towns of Balamban and Asturias as well as in the adjoining City of Toledo.
TUPAD beneficiaries worked for ten days by engaging in disinfection and sanitation activities in the different public places in their respective LGU.
Those from Balamban and Asturias personally claimed their reference codes from Bello at the Balamban Sports Complex, while the beneficiaries in Toledo City received their reference codes and financial assistance at the Toledo Megadome Sports Complex.
The DOLE official appreciated the warm and heartfelt welcome he received from the officials of the LGUs involved, especially from the beneficiaries themselves.
“Sa mga beneficiaries nga makadawat sa ilang financial assistance ug sweldo karon, pasalamati inyo ang inyong kaugalingon kay inyo kanang kwarta (For those beneficiaries who will receive your financial assistance and wages, be grateful to yourself because it is your own money)," said Bello.
In Balamban alone, DOLE spent P6,908,400 for the wages of the 1,710 TUPAD workers, P2,872,440 for the salaries of the 711 TUPAD workers in Asturias, and another P5,163,120 for the 1,278 TUPAD beneficiaries in Toledo City.
Bello urged all recipients to wisely spend what they earned and received, saying “alagaan ninyo ang pera. Spend it well para ipalit ug pagkaon, bugas ug medisina.”
DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton lauded the concerted efforts exerted by the staff of the DOLE Regional Office, including that of the Cebu Provincial Field Office led by Officer-in-Charge Vivencio Lagahid that has jurisdiction over the said LGUs where the awarding of the financial assistance and TUPAD payouts took place.
“I would like to commend our staff for a job well done. Thank you for demonstrating teamwork and collaboration. The activities calendared since yesterday until today would not have been made possible and successful if not for your sincerity in taking on the roles assigned to you,” said Siaton.
Among the officials who were with Bello during the financial aid release and TUPAD payouts were Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Cong. Pablo John Garcia, and the local chief executives of the LGUs involved.
Also present were DOLE Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac; Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director Atty. Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla, DOLE-7 Assistant Regional Director Atty. Jude Thomas Trayvilla, and OWWA-7 OIC Regional Director Mae Codilla. (HFG/PIA7 with reports from DOLE-7)
