Article by:
Alexander Lopez
BUTUAN CITY – A total of 153 overseas Filipino worker (OFWs)-beneficiaries from two towns in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte received their payouts on Tuesday through the Tulong Pangkabuhayan Para sa Displaced/ Disadvantaged (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
A total of PHP734,400 were released during the distribution activity as each beneficiary received PHP4,800 for their 15-day employment.
Of the total number of beneficiaries, 100 were from the town of Del Carmen while 53 came from San Benito.
The beneficiaries of the OFWs were among those who became unemployed when the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic hit the island and were displaced during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December last year.
Jul Christine Manseguiao, the labor information officer of DOLE in Surigao del Norte (DOLE-SDN), told Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that it was the first time the DOLE-SDN included the displaced beneficiaries of OFWs in TUPAD.
“Primarily, the assistance of DOLE for the OFWs is through Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) by giving them livelihood. In this case, we had written the office of Secretary Silvestre Bello III asking if they can avail of the TUPAD program as well and they catered to our request and we facilitated the release of the assistance,” Manseguiao said.
Under the TUPAD program, only social, economic, and agroforestry community projects can be supported with such assistance.
“The program is very significant because the OFWs from Siargao were greatly affected by the devastation of Typhoon Odette so the emergence of employment is necessary. TUPAD is implemented to help the economic situation of our OFW Kababayans who are still in our country waiting for their return to their work abroad,” Manseguiao said.
She added that the DOLE-SDN is hoping the salaries they received will help their families especially in sustaining their basic needs.
TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed. (PNA)
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