MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)–For the seventh time among all provinces nationwide, the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) succeeded in bringing the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE-X) services closer to 9,246 constituents through convenient and faster access to emergency employment, livelihood and youth employment programs on 11-12 November 2023 at Bukidnon State University (BukSU).
DOLE-X Regional Director lawyer Erwin Aquino and Undersecretaries Benjo Santos Benavidez and Felipe Egargo, Jr., represented Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma in the two-day services caravan
On the first day of BPSF, Aquino said 2,845 workers received a total of P12,684,557.14 for their ten days wage under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) Workers or the emergency employment program of DOLE.
On the same day of the Serbisyo Fair, 853 Damulog workers; 236 from Libona and Sumilao; 116 from Kadingilan; 100 from Manolo Fortich; and 67 from Malaybalay City received a total of P6,114,913.14 as their wages under the TUPAD program.
The next day, 2,123 TUPAD beneficiaries underwent the program orientation, while an additional 1,280 were oriented offsite.
Further, Aquino said the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) granted P20,810,000 worth of livelihood starter kits to 1,442 poor and unemployed in the informal sector, including training support to help them augment incomes and reduce their vulnerabilities. The financial aid was coursed through Valencia Rural Improvement Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VRIMPC), DOLE-X’s accredited co-partner.
Beneficiaries of DOLE-10’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged (TUPAD) Workers and DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) receive their wages and livelihood grants handed in by Undersecretaries and Benjo Santos Benavidez (3rd from left) and Felipe N. Egargo, Jr. (4th from left), and DOLE-X Regional Director Erwin Aquino (4th from right) graced by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on 11 November 2023 during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. (Angelo Rodriguez, Jr./DOLE-X)
Likewise, DOLE’s Government Internship Program (GIP) released P5,700,000 worth of stipend to 184 youth interns, aged 18-30, who went through three to six-month internships to pursue work in the public service sector, both local and national government units, as their training ground for future government employment.
“During these challenging times, we acknowledge the struggles our fellow Filipinos are enduring. The BPSF is a testament to our commitment to providing tangible assistance to those in need. The financial aid released today will undeniably impact the lives of our DOLE program recipients, helping them overcome financial obstacles and move towards a brighter future,” he said.
DOLE-X installed an information center/booth for programs and service inquiries during the two-day event within the BukSU campus.
TUPAD beneficiary and Person-With-Disability (PWD) Roy Portillas thanked DOLE-X for his P4,050 salary.
“Daghang salamat kay gina-apil kami nga mga PWDs isip benepisyaryo sa TUPAD, wala gyud mi kalimti. Maayo sad kaayo diri sila nag-payout kay daghan pako ma-avail nga serbisyo sa uban pang ahensya,” Portillas said.
Thank you for including PWDs as beneficiaries of TUPAD. It is a testament to remembering and acknowledging our needs. Conveniently, I received my payout here because I can also avail of the services of other government agencies).
DOLE-10’s TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) beneficiary Roy Portillano receives his wages during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at Bukidnon State University Auditorium, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. (Angelo Rodriguez, Jr./DOLE-X) (Angelo Rodriguez, Jr./DOLE-X)
Noel Moreno, a TUPAD beneficiary and senior citizen farmer traveled 40 kilometers to BukSU. After receiving his pay, he found the long journey worth the effort.
“Lipay kaayo ko, magamit gyud nako ni nga kwarta (TUPAD salary) pang palit ug utanon nga seedlings. Naa pa gyud ang uban ahensya sa gobyerno diri karon, maka-apil ko sa uban nila na mga serbisyo. Nakapa check-up pa ko ug libre,” Moreno said.
(I am so happy because I now have the money (TUPAD salary) to buy vegetable seedlings. There are also other government agencies where needy individuals availed of their services. I also took advantage of medical check-ups for free).
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the keynote speaker of the Serbisyo Fair, emphasized the importance of proactive government agencies in serving citizens.
“At the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, our aim is not only to facilitate but also to broaden people’s access to government services. While several provinces have already experienced the benefits of our BPSF, Bukidnon now stands as one of the areas with the highest number of beneficiaries,” Romualdez said.
He emphasized that the success of BPSF and strong collaborative efforts among government agencies, organizers, and beneficiaries demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving Filipino lives through accessible and inclusive public services.
DOLE encourages all eligible beneficiaries to stay informed about future events and programs that aim to provide continuous support to the Filipino workforce. The department remains steadfast in its mission to create a Bagong Pilipinas where every citizen can reap the rewards of a flourishing and inclusive economy. (RLT/KCP/DOLE 10-BukPFO/PIA 10/Bukidnon)
