DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- A total of 1,000 informal sector workers in the province received their stipend from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Labor Day after rendering community service in their respective barangays.

Under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program DOLE, the beneficiaries each earned P4,680 for a period of 10 days of emergency employment.

Corazon Sillo, 57, married with five children from Barangay Cantupa, La Libertad thanked the government as the program helped her family earn additional income to support their basic needs.

“Dako nakong pasalamat naapil ko sa TUPAD o programa sa gobyerno kay makatabang sa pagpamalit namo ug bugas para sa pamilya ug tabang sab sa gastohanan sa mga bata o apo sa pag eskwela,” said Corazon.

(I am so grateful that I have been part of the TUPAD program of the government as this helped us buy rice and pay for the school expenses of my children and grandchildren.)

Corazon is also a member of Bugsay Famers Association in her barangay, where the members are encouraged to share a part of their salary from TUPAD to buy livestock such as pigs, goats, and cows for their livelihood project.

The TUPAD beneficiaries performed light work in the barangay, such as street sweeping and cleaning of public facilities, mangrove or tree planting, and coastal clean-up, among others.

For Geraldine Nuevo, 36, a laundry woman from the same barangay as Corazon, is also thankful to the government for giving them the opportunity to work with prevailing minimum wage of P468 per day.

“Dako sab ni kaayo’g tabang sa amoang assosasyon kay mapalambo jud namo sa among pag amot-amot para ipalit ug hayupan unya puhon magbahin mi sa abot,” said Geraldine.

(This is also a big help to our association to improve through our contributions. We can buy some livestock in the near future and we can all earn from the income.)

DOLE has paid over P4 million in wages to 1,000 TUPAD workers during Labor Day in Negros Oriental.

DOLE labor and employment officer III Rubie Cempron said there are a total 8,000 TUPAD beneficiaries in the three districts in the province who would also be receiving their payments in separate occasions in their respective local government units (LGUs).

“While we are experiencing EL Niño, the beneficiaries are our identified priorities and validated to be qualified for the TUPAD program,” said Cempron.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment who are affected with calamities, 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. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)