Christmas comes early to the 1,080 worker-beneficiaries under TUPAD or Tulong Panghanap-buhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers of barangays Butigue and Palitod during a brief TUPAD Payout Program held at the Butigue Sports Complex at Paracelis, Mt. Province last December 20, 2021. Each beneficiary received Php 10,500.00, including Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and health insurance, for their 30-days work rendered from September-October 2021.

RD Lacambra (center) hands the TUPAD salary of the beneficiaries

The awarding ceremony was conducted in partnership with the Municipality of Paracelis and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mt. Province. Paracelis Mayor Hon. Marcos G. Ayangwa expressed his gratitude to Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III and the Department of Labor and Employment -Cordillera Administrative Region staff for the huge impact of the TUPAD to the residents of the locality. He claimed that this is like an early Christmas present to the workers.

Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra, CESO III, mentioned in his opening message that, “Agyaman kami ti inted-yo nga oportunidad nga agserbi kadakayo. Sapay kuma ta mausar yo nga naimbag dagita sweldo yo, ken sapay kuma ta naragsak ti Paskua tayu am-amin nga kadwa ti pamilya tayu. (Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be of service to you. We hope that you use these finances responsibly, and I hope we all have a joyful Christmas with your families).” RD Lacambra noted that the Department thrives to address the problems of unemployment and underemployment by bringing more focus and accessibility welfare programs for the informal workers.

DOLE-Mt. Province Field Office Head, Mr. Apollo R. Luspian noted that Mt. Province has since received Php 102M for the implementation of the TUPAD Program, assisting 17,951 displaced or disadvantaged workers. Paracelis has the second highest TUPAD funding in the province, amounting to Php 52M which benefitted the 4,857 residents of its various barangays, including 531 from Butigue, and 549 from Palitod. Furthermore, the municipality has previously received around Php 2M for 400 beneficiaries through the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) of the DOLE, with the help of the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) and the Mt. Province LGU.

Additionally, the municipality was awarded an amount Php 10M from the Department of Agriculture -Cordillera through its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, and another Php 3M worth of seeds and fertilizers for the agricultural workers in the area, during the program.

The Department of Labor and Employment continues its indomitable endeavor in providing various programs and projects in the municipality; recently assisting the Balanggao Weavers Association, Mabato Farmers Cooperative, and provision of Php 3M worth of individual livelihood aid, including 3 rebel returnees.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, based on the nature of work to be performed. The payment of wages are coursed through a money remittance service provider to ensure standard application across all regions in terms of mechanics and service fee costs. In cases where an Accredited Co-Partner (ACP) is involved in the implementation, the ACP (including Local Government Units) shall facilitate the payment of wages of the TUPAD beneficiaries using a prescribed payroll, with representatives from DOLE Regional or Field Offices as witnesses.

 

END//Daryll Ponard