DOLE looking into possible assistance for drivers via TUPAD program

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is checking what assistance can be extended to public utility vehicle drivers affected by the rising cost of fuel as a result of the war in the Middle East, its spokesperson said Sunday.

DOLE spokesperson Assistant Secretary Lennard Serrano, in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, said DOLE is looking into the department's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program in this regard.

"Itong TUPAD ay isang social protection program ng DOLE na sumusuporta sa mga vulnerable at marginalized workers, kasama ang mga nawalan o mawawalan ng trabaho o kabuhayan tulad nitong energy emergency," he said.

(TUPAD is a social protection program of DOLE that supports vulnerable and marginalized workers, including those who lost or are about to lose their jobs or livelihood such as during this state of national energy emergency.)

"Ang TUPAD ay cash-for-work. Nagbibigay ng emergency employment, agarang assistance, temporary in nature para sa mga vulnerable, marginalized at displaced workers," Serrano added.

(TUPAD is cash-for-work. It gives emergency employment, assistance that is immediate and temporary in nature for vulnerable, marginalized, and displaced workers.)

"Itong programa natin ay inclusive. Nu'ng simula ng emergency nu'ng March, tinitignan, binabantayan na natin ang mga sektor na maaaring maapektuhan nitong pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at iba pang kaganapan dulot ng Middle East war," he said.

(This program is inclusive. Starting from the state of national energy emergency in March, we are looking at and monitoring sectors that may be affected by the increase in the prices of oil and other events due to the war in the Middle East.)

"Agaran tayong nakipagpulong sa ahensiya ng pamahalaan... na maaaring makapagbigay ng assistance at suporta sa ating mga driver," Serrano said.

(We immediately coordinated with other government agencies that can help in giving assistance and support to our drivers.)

The DOLE spokesperson said PUV drivers are one of the most affected by the fuel price increases.

"Mahalaga ang mga driver especially ngayon. Pero nakikita rin natin na sila talaga ang one of the most affected dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo [ng langis] kaya tinitignan natin, anong assistance ang maibibigay through the TUPAD program," he said.

(Drivers are especially valuable today. But we see that they are also one of the most affected due to the rise in the cost of fuel, so we are checking what assistance we can give through the TUPAD program.)

"Tinitignan natin sa ating pagpupulong, kung paano makatutulong ang ating TUPAD program. Nakapag-meeting na kami nu'ng Thursday and Friday at sa Monday magkikita ulit kami to finalize na. Hopefully after Holy Week, ma-implement na natin ito. Tinitignan naman natin kung paano makatulong itong TUPAD program, para magtuloy-tuloy ang pamamasada [ng mga tsuper]," Serrano added.

(In our meeting, we looked at how TUPAD program can help. We met on Thursday and Friday, and on Monday, we will meet again to finalize. Hopefully, after Holy Week, we can implement this. We are looking into how the TUPAD program can help so drivers can continue servicing their routes.)

Serrano said the fuel subsidy of P5,000 being given by the government to PUV drivers will only cover a few days' worth of diesel.

"Tinitignan natin kung sino pa ang pwedeng makasama rito... Tinitignan din natin--mga tricycle driver. Maaari pa ba silang makapasok, maging beneficiary sa ating programa?" he said.

(We are also looking at who else can be included in the program, such as tricycle drivers, and can they be beneficiaries of the program?)

"While we recognize that they might have been given ng ayuda from DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development], baka magandang ma-integrate para magtuloy ang kanilang pamamasada... Tuloy-tuloy sana ang pamamasada nila (maybe it would be best to integrate them into the program so they can continue plying their routes)," Serrano added.

Under the TUPAD program's existing guidelines, a TUPAD worker may be given 10 to 90 days work. 

"Tinitignan natin dito sa inaayos na framework kung ilang araw ang maaaring maibigay. Ang tinitignan natin as much as possible, mabigyan lahat," Serrano said.

(In the framework we are crafting, we are checking how many days may be given [for work]. We hope to give work to all beneficiaries.)

He added that the DOLE is coordinating with the Department of Transportation to get the list of PUV drivers who may be assisted via TUPAD. —KG, GMA Integrated News