QUEZON CITY -- Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III fulfilled his promise to return to Tarlac province on Wednesday where he distributed more government assistance to informal workers displaced by the pandemic.

Bello led the awarding of P3.528 million payouts from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program to 880 COVID-hit farmers, tricycle drivers and vendors.

The Labor Secretary was in the province last year to extend government aid via TUPAD, the cash-for-work program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Tarlac officials led by Governor Susan Yap thanked Bello for the immediate and timely help from DOLE. 

Since many more of their constituents needed help, the local executives appealed for more assistance from the state to which Bello responded by vowing to revisit Tarlac this year.

Under TUPAD, beneficiaries are given work specified by the local government. They are paid in cash to help them cope with crisis.

During yesterday's event, each of the beneficiaries received P4,200 as pay for their participation in community clean-up drive.

The recipients are from the local governments of Tarlac City, Gerona, Victoria and San Jose.

"As long as we have the means, DOLE will never get tired of helping our needy workers. Likewise, we will always support LGUs that are responsively performing their mandate to aid our people during hard times," Bello said. (DOLE)