CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — Around 20 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in Calapan City District Jail recently received their payout worth P5,925 each under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) MIMAROPA.
The financial assistance distributed by DOLE amounted to P118,500, which is equivalent to the 15 days of work of the PDLs, particularly for handicrafts making and equipment repairs.
Alias Karen, one of the PDL beneficiaries, is grateful for the financial assistance DOLE gave her.
“Malaking tulong ito para sa amin. Makakabili kami ng mga bagay na kailangan namin dito sa loob at hindi na namin kailangang humingi pa sa aming mga pamilya. Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat dahil sa halos 9 na taon na pamamalagi ko dito sa loob tanging DOLE lamang ang nagbigay ng ganitong napakalaking tulong sa amin. Sa aming pagkakaunawa ang TUPAD ay para lamang sa mga taong nasa laya, hindi pala, ito po pala ay nakakaabot din sa mga bahay kanlungan,” she said.
Karen also wished that other government programs would continue and that other PDLs would receive the same aid.
Naomi Lyn C. Abellana, Regional Director of DOLE MIMAROPA, said that TUPAD’s goal is to allow the jail inmates to help their families and their needs.
“Layunin ng TUPAD na bigyang pagkakataon ang mga PDL na makatulong sa kanilang mga pamilya at kanilang pangangailangan, magsilbing inspirasyon upang maging isang kapaki-pakinabang na indibidwal at makamit ang kanilang pag-unlad sa loob at labas ng piitan. Maaasahan po ninyo ang DOLE sa patuloy na pagtulong sa ilalim ng aming livelihood program upang maging kaagapay nila kapag sila ay nasa laya,” Abellana said.
Jail Chief Inspector Randie Abril, Acting District Jail Warden, also thanked the DOLE for the opportunity to reach the PDLs through the TUPAD program.
“Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa DOLE sa pagkakataong nakaabot sa mga PDLs ang ganitong makabuluhang programa,” he said.
In a press release, DOLE said that the TUPAD payout is carried out in prisons “to ensure that beneficiaries, even under care, benefit from financial support for their daily needs. The purpose of this program is not only to provide direct cash assistance but also to help improve the condition of individuals in their prisons.” (AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
