TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--A total of 83 flood victims with totally and partially damaged houses from this province received their wages, January 16, at the Provincial Capitol, Pigcarangan, Tubod.

Through its emergency employment program, Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 helped the flood victims.

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which is part of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte, made sure that the beneficiaries got their pay.

According to Evelyn Lopez, PESO Manager, 20% of the said fund was from the counterpart of the provincial government. Each of the beneficiaries received P3,900, equivalent to 10 days of work.

"Kaning release namo ron sa TUPAD kay para sa katong totally and partially damaged houses nga naapektuhan sa low-pressure area. Naa ta'y fund na TUPAD, gipadayon lang ni namo para immediate na ipanghatag nato samtang gatrabaho sila para sa paglimpyo sila sa ilang naapektuhan nga balay," Lopez said.

(This release from TUPAD is for those who have totally and partially damaged houses that were affected by the low-pressure area. We have a fund for TUPAD, we just continued to give it immediately so that we could give it to them while they were working to clean up their affected houses.)

Ivy Rosalejos, 35, a resident of Lala town, conveyed gratitude for the assistance they received.

"Tungod sa panghitabo sa LPA, na damage gyud ang amoang pamuyo. Nagpasalamat ko sa DOLE ug kay Governor Angging kay isip usa ka single parent, dako nanig tabang para ipalit namo pagkaon sa akong mga anak," she said.

(Because of the LPA, our village was really damaged. I thank DOLE and Governor Angging because, as a single parent, this is really helpful for us to buy food for my children)

Meanwhile, Governor Imelda "Angging" Dela Cruz Quibranza hoped that more of these funds would be downloaded to benefit those constituents whose livelihoods are heavily affected by the heavy floods.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed workers, and seasonal workers for a minimum period of 10 days but not to exceed 30 days, depending on the nature of the work to be performed. (PIO LDN/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)