In Northern Cebu: Almost 2,000 TUPAD workers receive salary

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment through its Cebu Provincial Field Office (CPFO) has released a total P8.7 million for the wages of the 1,992 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) program coming from the four towns of Cebu Province.

According to DOLE-7, of the 1,992 beneficiaries, 729 came from the town of San Remigio and were given a total of P3,185,730; Daanbantayan has 600 beneficiaries who received P2,622,000 worth of wages; Bogo City has 500 receiving P2,185,000 worth of wages; and 164 beneficiaries of Bogo-Medellin Milling Company, Inc. receiving P712,310 worth of wages.

Each worker received P4,350 for doing community works like road and street cleaning to name a few. They worked for 10 days and received the minimum wage of P435 per day. They were also given cleaning kits and TUPAD uniforms.

Aside from the wages, cleaning kits and uniforms, CPFO-OIC chief, Vivencio E. Lagahid, said that the TUPAD workers are covered with a one-year group personal accident insurance which is shouldered by DOLE-7.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Lilia A. Estillore said that payment of wages was coursed through a money remittance service provider to ensure a standard application across all regions in terms of mechanics and service fee costs.

The newly-appointed regional director added that the workers received reference codes during the pay-out which they used in claiming their salaries at the DOLE-7’s partner remittance center.

One of the beneficiaries said that the payment of salaries went on smoothly, thanking the department as the salary is already a big help for the family.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that 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.

The TUPAD payout was held from April 26-27, 2023 with the presence of Cebu Fourth District Representative Janice Z. Salimbangon, San Remigio Mayor Alfonso C. Pestolante, Daanbantayan Mayor Sun J. Shimura, and Ian Sanjorjo, president of BOMEDCO Union. — GMR (FREEMAN)