Senators say TUPAD should be implemented by DOLE, not local execs

Senators on Tuesday agreed on crafting a special provision in the 2023 budget that would transfer the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) from local executives.

During plenary deliberations on the P49.223 billion proposed budget of DOLE for 2023, Senator Raffy Tulfo said the agency should carry out the emergency employment program and not the local officials, adding he received reports of politicians allegedly using the program for corruption and electioneering.

“Para sa akin po, dapat ang magbibigay derecho mula sa DOLE.  Ang dapat mag-identify ng beneficiaries dapat DOLE because it is the one who has the qualification and the knowhow kung sino ba talaga ang nangangailangan ng trabaho,” the senator said.

(DOLE should implement TUPAD. DOLE should also identify the beneficiaries because it knows who needs the jobs.)

“Ang lumilitaw po, nagagamit sa election ang TUPAD. ‘Yun lang po ang pinupunto ko rito," Tulfo said.

(What happens is TUPAD is being used in the elections.  This is my point here.)

"What I'm against is, ‘yun bang sa distribution, na kung minsan di din patas ang pagbibigay ng TUPAD sa mga tao sapagkat ang nakikinabang ay mga kamag-anak, kaibigan, kasambahay, driver, what have you, ng mga politiko at nagagamit sa election.” he added.

(What I’m against is the distribution, sometimes it's not fair.  Only the relatives, friends, househelp, driver, what have you, of the politicians benefit.)

Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the sponsor of the DOLE’s budget, affirmed Tulfo’s proposal and said a special provision on it would be included in the budget.

“Dahil sa inyong mungkahi, magkakaroon tayo ng special provision na derecho by administration ang DOLE-TUPAD,” she said.

(Because of your suggestion, we will have a special provision that the administration of TUPAD will be by DOLE.)

Under the 2023 budget of DOLE, the TUPAD program will receive P25.8 billion next year.

The TUPAD program is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment to displaced workers, unemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum of 10 days but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of the work to be performed.

It was first implemented to provide job opportunities for the targeted beneficiaries  during the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.—LDF, GMA Integrated News