CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 Cagayan de Oro City Field Office, spearheaded by Provincial Director Emmanuel G. Toledo, in partnership with the 2nd District Congressional Office led by Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez, the Public Employment Service Office CDO headed by Kathleen Kate D. Sorilla, and the Barangay Local Government Units, conducted a five-day series of TUPAD Payouts worth P19.5 million to an estimated 5,000 beneficiaries from various Oro barangays.

TUPAD payouts were conducted at Barangays Nazareth, Lapasan, and Camaman-an, respectively. Each beneficiary received P3,900 as payment for rendering ten (10) days of service to their respective Barangay Local Government Units.

Rosalie Gulay, 70, sidewalk vegetable vendor, used to sell ready-to-wear, until the pandemic came and food became more essential. With her older grandchild, they both sell and make a living out of the small income to support five more grandchildren left under her care in her home.

As a grandmother, she had to make do with what little she earned in order to make sure that her grandchildren were able to go to school.

With the TUPAD salary she has received, she plans to have her eyeglasses repaired, and the majority of her salary will be dedicated to spending on school supplies and sustenance.

Rosalie is thankful to DOLE that, despite her age, she was given the chance to become a beneficiary, as this sum of money can go a long way in supporting her family.

Amelita Cortez expressed her gratitude for the aid that the government has given her through the TUPAD Program of DOLE. As a mother of eight, she sells spices and vegetables at the Cogon Public Market, while her husband seasonally works at a small surplus automotive supply store. With half of her children still going to school, money is tight.

As of the moment, she is not able to go back to selling as her capital funds have already been used for more important daily needs.

With the TUPAD salary she received, she plans to allocate some to get back to selling and use the remaining amount to buy rice to feed her family and purchase supplies for her children.

During the five-day TUPAD Payout, Poledo opened the event by assuring the beneficiaries that the DOLE, through its programs and initiatives, is always open to providing aid to those who are in dire circumstances just to make ends meet. He hoped that the salaries would be spent wisely and put to good use in order to appreciate the objectives of the TUPAD program. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)