DOLE allots P50M for emergency employment program in quake-hit regions

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is allocating an initial P50 million for emergency employment in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Ilocos Region following the magnitude 7 earthquake that shook Northern Luzon.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the move is in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to concerned state agencies to help calamity-hit provinces in Region I and CAR.

“In particular, we are rolling out the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for the quake victims,” Laguesma said.

The Labor chief said the program will cover four heavily-affected municipalities in CAR, including 37 barangays in the region.

He said the DOLE has started profiling beneficiaries for the TUPAD program.

Laguesma said the DOLE is an active member of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Cluster under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“As such, we are mandated to reduce the vulnerability to risks of the poor and marginalized workers,” he said.

For the Ilocos Region, Laguesma said the DOLE tapped 800 emergency workers to participate in clearing, cleaning up, and recycling operations in Vigan City.

Similar undertakings were done in seven other towns namely Lidlidda, Sugpon, Caoayan, San Emilio, Galimuyod, and Santa Cruz, he said.

“They started working yesterday (July 28) to provide help to affected communities,” the Labor chief said.

Laguesma said DOLE is also going to support other areas affected by the disaster.

“Help is on the way to the other three provinces of Region I where TUPAD will also come into play,” he said.

“Field offices of DOLE in Region I are now in coordination with the local government units and other agencies for convergent assistance,” he added.

The Labor chief said TUPAD is the DOLE’s initial action to address the needs of the quake victims

“We shall tap other available programs very soon to help our needy countrymen,” Laguesma said.

In particular, the DOLE chief said the agency is eyeing to tap other recovery measures that include employment facilitation through the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) for individuals who lost their jobs.

“The activity will include referral, placement, and the conduct of Special Risk Allowance (SRA) and job fairs in the region,” he said.—AOL, GMA News