The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas said it has paid over P238 million to around 46,583 beneficiaries in the region, including 7,162 from Negros Oriental, who rendered work under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.
DOLE-7 regional director Salome Siaton, in a statement, said the disbursed funds covered the salaries of beneficiaries working in the different provinces in Central Visayas.
The amount, she added, also funded the Group Personal Accident Insurance of beneficiaries under the Government Service Insurance System, and the service charge at the DOLE’s partner-money remittance center.
Beneficiaries worked for four hours each day for 14 days, like delivery of essential goods and services, packing of relief goods and other related tasks assigned by local governments, preparation, design, dissemination, posting of information, and educational materials especially in the rural areas, transport services for the setting up of mobile markets, and disinfection/sanitation of community and other public facilities.
Under the Bayanihan 2, the DOLE implemented TUPAD in the region and gave priority to workers in the informal sector affected by the pandemic.
The program has also aided workers in the informal sector, particularly the unpaid family workers and self-employed workers with elementary occupations, who were displaced or whose earnings were affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the program ended in December last year, the Cebu provincial field office tallied the most number of beneficiaries at 14,740, which is being closely followed by the Tri-City field office or the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu at 12,252. The Bohol field office registered 8,982 informal sector workers benefiting the program, and 3,369 for the Siquijor field office.
Siaton said TUPAD, along with other programs under Bayanihan 2, is the DOLE’s contribution to the government’s pursuit of a whole-of-nation approach in the implementation of recovery and rehabilitation measures to cushion the pandemic’s impact on the economy and society.
Under the Bayanihan 1, the DOLE implemented TUPAD Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko Disinfection/Sanitation Project, and TUPAD as a post-enhanced community quarantine intervention.
As of December, both programs have 36,291 beneficiaries with a total of P147.12 million spent for their implementation.*PNA
