DOLE advances cash salary of Bicol workers in informal sector

The Department of Labor and Employment, for the first time, paid in advance the salaries of Bicolanos who applied for the department’s emergency employment program post-Typhoon Rolly.

Under DOLE’s Tulong Pang-hanap buhay para sa Disadvantages/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), at least 1,106 of 5,000 target beneficiaries were paid half of their P5,000-salary. The other half would be paid upon completion of the 16-day job of 4 hours each day.

On Saturday, November 14, the payout was made for the 506 TUPAD beneficiaries from Guinobatan, Bacacay, and Tabaco City in Albay.

The first payouts were made in Catanduanes, the hardest hit province by the typhoon. At least 600 displaced workers from the towns of San Miguel, Bato, and Virac had already gotten their salaries on November 9 and 10.

At least two beneficiaries Rappler spoke to said they would use the money to rebuild their homes.

“This is the first time that I’ll receive cash aid from the government, which I’ll use for payment for cutting good lumber that I can use in rebuilding my home,” said the 29-year-old Sonny Tapil from San Miguel, one of the worse-hit villages in Catanduanes.

In Virac, among the 348 beneficiaries was Joy Bernal whose capital for her sari-sari store was nearly exhausted because her neighbors could not pay back their debts.

“I have no choice but to be patient because our livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic, and now by this typhoon,” Bernal said.

Beneficiaries signed an oath pledging they would complete the work under TUPAD. The following are excluded from the program:

• Beneficiaries of the government’s cash aid program for coronavirus
• Members of Pantawid Pamilya Pilipinong Program.

Qualified applicants can ask for a form from their Barangay Office or from the Municipal Office as the profiling was still ongoing.

DOLE Regional Director Joel Gonzales said the work of the beneficiaries ranged from repairing their homes, cleaning their surroundings, parks, and schools – simple activities that would help make them start over.

He also asked the local government officials to make the profiling thorough to ensure that the deserving and those from less accessible areas can benefit from the program. – Rappler.com