Photos courtesy of Department of Labor and Employment -Negros Occidental Field Office (DOLE-NOFO).
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) — Mt. Kanlaon eruption evacuees can take advantage of the Department of Labor-Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) project’s 10-day employment assistance once they return to their homes.
Department of Labor and Employment-Negros Occidental Field Office (DOLE-NOFO) chief Carmela Villar said that TUPAD employment assistance is yet to be implemented as evacuees are still in evacuation centers.
She said that only one family member could avail of the TUPAD assistance and receive P480 daily for 10 days of work.
Likewise, she clarified that a beneficiary can only avail of the TUPAD assistance once a year, but due to the intervening circumstances brought about by the Kanlaon eruption, they would be given it a second time, Villar noted.
She said the DOLE has already coordinated with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the LGUs affected by the eruption to identify qualified evacuees for the program.
“When things change for the better and conditions improve, the barangay will identify programs for work for the TUPAD projects, including declogging canals in Lahar—it is community work,” she said.
Moreover, she pointed out that a “no-work, no-pay” policy would be observed for private workers in areas under a state of calamity, unless a special order is issued.
“Employers, however, can make considerations in favor of the employees due to the peculiar circumstances. This could be an internal arrangement,” she said. (AAL/Lljr PIA6 Negros Occ.)
