LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) – At least 3,604 abaca farmer-beneficiaries in Catanduanes will benefit from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) early this year.
Dubbed as ‘Abaca Rehab’, the project aims to rehabilitate the abaca plantations in the province to recover from the devastation caused by the recent typhoons.
On February 1, the DOLE has awarded the Provincial Government of Catanduanes a check for the TUPAD program worth P19,726,425 at the Catanduanes Provincial Capitol in Virac town.
TUPAD Program focal person Kim Zuñiga together with the newly installed DOLE Catanduanes Provincial Head and Assistant Regional Director Lawyer Imelda E. Romanillos and Senior Labor and Employment Officer Jomell Pasano personally awarded the check to Catanduanes Governer Joseph “Boboy” Cua.
According to DOLE, the TUPAD program is a short-term emergency employment program to mitigate the impact of calamities, disasters, and epidemics on workers in the informal sector.
This program will aid affected abaca farmers who will be working for 15 days and will receive a minimum salary of P 365 per day.
The DOLE added that an orientation on the TUPAD Program shall also be conducted before deploying the beneficiaries. They will also be provided with complete personal protective equipment and will be enrolled under the Government Service Insurance System. (PIA/ Marian Geraldine Bayta, Bicol University intern contributed to this report)
