CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--In celebration of the 88th DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) Anniversary and anchored with the theme, “Tuloy-tuloy ang PagTUPAD sa Serbisyong Tapat,” DOLE-10 Cagayan de Oro City Field Office (CDO FO) Chief Emmanuel G. Toledo said a payout activity under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) was conducted to the 970 recipients worth P5,820,000 of total wages, December 8 at the Macanhan Elementary School, Barangay Macanhan, here.

Toledo said the said beneficiaries from the 24 barangays of the First Congressional District in the city each received a salary of P6,000 for the 16-day work-period rendered.  Most of these beneficiaries were marginalized farmers, tricycle/trisikad drivers and street vendors whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic.

Barangay Tignapoloan beneficiary George Valero, 51, with three children has been unemployed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. He used to work in a farm in his barangay.

“Nalipay ko ug dako nga naapil ko niini nga programa sa TUPAD kay lisod kaayo ang pagpanarbaho karon.  Ang nadawat nako nga sweldo karon ako kining ipalit ug bugas, sud-an, ug mga panginahanglan sa balay.  Dako gyud ang akong pasalamat sa DOLE,” Valero said.

(I am happy I am included in this program for it is very difficult to be employed now. My salary will be spent on food and other basic household needs. My big thanks to DOLE)

Likewise, 27-year-old beneficiary of the hinterland barangay of Pigsan-an, Lowela D. Libreto used to work as a housemaid.  She was unemployed on the onset of the pandemic.  She hardly met the financial needs of her family for employment was limited.

“Nalipay ko ug dako nga bisan sa kalisod sa panahon nakaapil ko sa TUPAD sa DOLE.  Makapalit na ko ug bugas ug mga panginahanglanon sa akong mga anak ug sa balay. Daghang sa salamat DOLE,” Libreto said.

(I am grateful I was employed through DOLE-TUPAD, even in this challenging time. I can now buy rice and the needs of my children and household)

TUPAD Progam is a temporary emergency employment offered by DOLE under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) to the disadvantaged/displaced workers. Beneficiaries under this program will be given an average of 10-90 days’ work compensated based on the prevailing minimum wage in the region. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)