CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)–10 Regional Director Albert E. Gutib led the pay-out series of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) to the 6,650 displaced/disadvantaged workers from 20 low-lying barangays in the city, February 23-March 9.

DOLE-10 Cagayan de Oro City Field Office Chief Emmanuel G. Toledo said the beneficiaries were among the victims of the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December last year. Most of the beneficiaries lost their belongings and some houses were destroyed by the heavy and non-stop flooding.

Majority of the beneficiaries were informal sector workers – ambulant vendors, trisikad drivers, habal-habal drivers, marginalized fisherfolks, small farmers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ), solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).  Out of the 6,650 beneficiaries, 3,382 were women informal sector workers.

Moreover, Toledo said Barangay Consolacion registered the highest number of beneficiaries with 737 and followed by Barangay Bulua with 700. Also registered were from Barangays Bonbon (687); Puntod (570); 26 (550); and Bugo (511). 

Barangay 23 recorded 431 beneficiaries; while Barangays 22 and Carmen logged the same number of 387 beneficiaries each. Barangay Tablon, on the other hand, has 368 beneficiaries. 

Also reported were Barangays Puerto with 214 beneficiaries, Macasandig (200), Camaman-an (195), and 24 (164).  Barangay Balulang has 144 and Balubal with 129; and Barangays 26 (99), 35 (80), Gusa (75) and FS Catanico (22).

Barangay Puntod beneficiary Linda Lubid has been suffering of goiter and was temporarily displaced from her work as security guard and was deprived of any medication. Her condition was aggravated when Typhoon Odette hit the area, where she could barely afford to supply her family’s basic needs. 

“Dako na kaayo ni nga tabang sa ako nga nakadawat sa TUPAD salary, makapalit na jud ko sa akong tambal (I can now buy medicines through my TUPAD salary),” Lubid said. 

Likewise, 24-year-old trisikad (rickshaw) driver beneficiary Kein C. Torrepalma said the pandemic disrupted his source of income.  Kein’s house was almost destroyed by the flooding and most of his belongings were lost.

“Nagpasalamat ko sa akong nadawat nga sweldo sa TUPAD kay makatabang ni para makapalit ug bugas, tambal, mintras wala pa'y trabaho,” Torrepalma said.

(I am grateful for the salary I received from TUPAD. I can now buy rice and medicines for the meantime I am displaced)

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