Government aid for pandemic-hit workers in Cagayan Province would reach more than P1 billion by the end of 2021, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III expects DOLE to have distributed a total of P1.1 billion in financial assistance from DOLE’s flagship cash-for-work aid program, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) to workers of the province before yearend.
Beneficiaries are estimated to reach around 198,000 workers, Bello told a crowd including national and local government officials.
The Labor chief was in Isabela, Cagayan to implement TUPAD and lead the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) meeting of the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS).
Bello reported that DOLE has assisted a total of 88,065 workers and disbursed a total of P480 million cash assistance since the start of the pandemic last year.
“We estimated the number to reach more than 198,000 beneficiaries for a sum of more than P1.1 billion in TUPAD funds before the end of the year,” Bello said.
A total of P50 million was also set aside for the implementation of DOLE’s Livelihood Program in the 100 identified influenced barangays in the Cagayan Valley Region, Bello added.
“Our people in the regional and field offices have started orientations among our partner local government units. We target to initiate the distribution of assistance in the last quarter,” he said.
Bello urged the local government units (LGUs) to pool more resources from other agencies to sustain the peace and development drive of the state in underprivileged barangays in the country.
“I’m sure that with the LGUs’ support, we can accomplish more, help more people and lead them to a better, brighter future,” Bello said.
After Isabela, Bello went to Tuguegarao City to deliver the financial and livelihood aid of the government to workers affected by the pandemic that continues to batter the economy. (DOLE) – bny
