BANGUED, Abra (PIA) – A total of 161 farmers in Abra received P2 million in wages under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD). 

The farmer-beneficiaries are members of irrigation associations in the municipalities of La Paz, Tayum, and Bangued who suffered crop losses last year due to Typhoon Egay. They cleaned the main canals of communal irrigation systems in the province.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Abra Provincial Head Ronald Bisquerra said that this was a convergence program with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the TUPAD program.

“Idi Typhoon Egay, adu dagiti farmers tayo nga naapektaran ket bassit ti naapitda, bimmasit ti income da, isu nga adda daytoy programa ti TUPAD ti DOLE ket naki tie-up ti regional office mi, ket adda met nadawat mi nga tulong para kadagiti farmers,” Bisquerra said.

[During Typhoon Egay, there were farmers who were affected, and had little harvest reducing their income. So, our regional office tied up with DOLE under the TUPAD program to help our farmers.]

Eddieboy Asilador, a farmer from La Paz, received his full pay of P12,900 for the 30-day service. 

“Daytoy nga banag, dakkel nga tulong nga naipaay kadakami nga mannalon. Kalaksidan ti financial assistance, simmayaat pay ti irigasion ket tuloy tuloy ti panagpadanum iti tal-talon,” Asilador expressed.

[This means a lot to us, farmers. Aside from the financial assistance, the irrigation canals are now in a better state  enhancing efficient water flow to the farmlands.]

He used to do second cropping every year, but due to the typhoons last year, his harvest declined. 

TUPAD 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, depending on the nature of work to be performed. (CAGT-PIA CAR, Abra)