DOLE reviewing ‘lapses’ on TUPAD program implementation — Laguesma

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is checking the supposed lapses on the implementation of its program for displaced workers, Secretary  Bienvenido Laguesma said Wednesday.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Laguesma said DOLE received some findings from the Commission on Audit on its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

“We are starting with the review ano yung existing guidelines, bakit nagkaroon ng ganung klaseng findings ang COA din para maiayos namin ang aming implementation process,” he said.

(We are starting with the review on the existing guidelines and why the COA came up with such findings so we can fix our  implementation process)

In its 2021 annual audit report on the DOLE, the COA pointed out that some financial assistance released in several regions cannot be ascertained due to different issues including “unliquidated fund transfers.”

“...The propriety and/or validity of the financial assistance granted to the various beneficiaries for TUPAD could not be ascertained in the Central Office, National Capital Region, Regional Offices I, III, V, IX, XII and XIII due to unliquidated fund transfers, unavailable/invalid/incorrect numbers, and no contact details of the beneficiaries,” the report said.

Also, COA advised DOLE to address concerns on unutilized balances in different regions and on TUPAD implementation involving local government units to avoid issues.

For Laguesma, these lapses should not be a hindrance in implementing TUPAD, which he said is a beneficial program.

“The challenge for the DOLE is to really transform and make use of TUPAD at ipatupad nang tamang pagpapatupad (and to implement its right implementation),” he said. — RSJ, GMA News