MANILA -- Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday acknowledged the indispensable role of local governments in rolling out government aid programs for workers affected by the pandemic.

During a payout ceremony for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in Imus, Cavite, Bello said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) can’t fully implement its assistance programs without the help of local governments.

“I’m very thankful to our leaders from the local government who are helping DOLE extend aid to our needy workers,” Bello said.

Bello went to Baranggay Buhay na Tubig to lead the awarding of more than P24 million in TUPAD payouts to over 6,000 pandemic-hit workers.

He was welcomed by an excited crowd including the beneficiaries and local executives led by Cavite Representative Alex Advincula.

TUPAD is the cash-for-work program of DOLE to aid workers severely hit by the crisis due to the COVID-19 global outbreak.

Bello reminded the beneficiaries to wisely spend their salaries amid the pandemic. “Use them to buy food, medicines and other necessities while the virus is still around,” he said.

Advincula expressed his gratitude to Bello for bringing DOLE’s assistance programs to Imus and other parts of Cavite. “Secretary Bello is indeed a man we can really count on when our workers need help,” the lawmaker said.

A total of P24.684 million in TUPAD funds were given to 6,171 beneficiaries during the ceremony which was also attended by Imus Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, councilor Adrian Jay Advincula and other local officials.

The beneficiaries are from baranggays Buhay na Tubig, Alapan II-A, Pag-Asa I, Anabu II-B, Bayan Luma III, Maharlika, Tociong II-A and Magalasang II-B.

Simultaneous payouts were also held in eight other areas in the city. 

They were represented in the gathering by hundreds of their co-beneficiaries, many of which were granted by DOLE with other state assistance such as the “Negokarts’ and free bicycles.

Bello is going around the country to enable the government to extend its long helping hand to needy workers.(DOLE)