More workers across the regions coping with the crippling effects of the pandemic received another wave of financial assistance as the Labor department awarded ₱28 million to 5,330 Northern Mindanaons.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III on Friday (Sept. 24) promised to give additional cash aid to 1,117 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanap-buhay sa Ating Disadvantage/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in Cagayan de Oro City to further help them amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Bello ordered the DOLE regional office to facilitate the additional cash assistance after he found out that TUPAD beneficiaries in the city only received P3,000 at the payout at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines.
“Magkano tatanggapin ng mga TUPAD sa CdO [Cagayan de Oro City]? Galing kami sa Manolo Fortich at ang binigay ko P6,000, bakit dito P3,000 lang? Wa’y hustisya [No justice],” Bello said in jest.
TUPAD beneficiaries in CdO are supposed to receive P3,000 for a ten-day rendered service but Bello said they deserved to receive the same amount of P6,000 just as the displaced workers from Bukidnon received.
“P3,654 (ang makukuha niyo). May utang pa kami na P2,000 plus. Ngayon, dadagdagan na lang natin ng another five days, magtrabaho kayo, dagdagan din natin ang suweldo,” Bello added.
“Alagaan niyo ‘yang pera na ‘yan dahil pinaghirapan niyo ‘yan,” he said.
Aside from TUPAD beneficiaries, overseas Filipino workers, fully vaccinated individuals, and other displaced workers also received assistance through DOLE’s Bikecination Program, DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay, Educational Assistance through Scholarships in Emergencies, Educational Livelihood Assistance Program Scholarship, OFW Dependent Scholarship Program, and Tulong PUSO.
Ten companies were also awarded Safety Seal certificates for complying with the minimum public health standards.
“‘Yan po ang programa ng Department of Labor para sa mga manggagawang impormal. Kaunting tulong para maibsan ang kahirapang bigay ni COVID-19,” Bello said. “‘Yun lamang po ang pinunta namin dito para iparating ang ayuda. Ang utos po ng Pangulong Duterte ay ibigay ang pera ninyo.”
In a separate ceremony, 1,278 DOLE beneficiaries in Misamis Oriental were awarded a total amount of ₱1.887 million worth of livelihood assistance, including 50 ‘negosyo karts’ in simple rites at the Capitol Grounds of Misamis Oriental.
DOLE-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Albert Gutib said the two-day event covered the areas of Alae, Bukidnon, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Misamis Oriental province. (DOLE) – jlo
