COA notes deficiencies in P16.9-B TUPAD program

Several “deficiencies” have been flagged by the Commission on Audit in the implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment’s P16.9-billion Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program.

In its 2021 annual audit report on the DOLE, the COA said that while the agency was commendable for the high utilization rate for its TUPAD funds – contributing to the “government’s agenda of inclusive growth thru massive job generation and poverty reduction” – significant lapses were observed by the audit team.

It noted that “the propriety and/ or validity of the financial assistance granted to the various beneficiaries for TUPAD could not be ascertained in the Central Office (CO), National Capital Region (NCR) [and] Regional Offices (ROs) I, III, V, IX, XII and XIII due to unliquidated fund transfers, unavailable/invalid/ incorrect numbers, and no contact details of the beneficiaries.”

The COA also cited “unsubstantiated claims and lack of documentary requirements,” as well as “insufficient monitoring and validation of the beneficiaries, money remittance centers (MRCs), and [project] proponents” as among the deficiencies noted by its audit team.

The COA’s record showed that of the P16.919 billion allotted to DOLE under Republic Act 11518 (General Appropriations Act of 2021) for the implementation of its TUPAD program, 95.86 percent or P16.218 billion was already utilized as of yearend with 2,880,817 beneficiaries.

The DOLE’s TUPAD program 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.

Under the program, workers receive corresponding salaries based on the regional minimum wage.

The COA said that for the NCR, receipt of the employment assistance of 11,885 out of the 17,533 listed TUPAD beneficiaries “could not be validated” due to unanswered calls, unavailable, invalid or incorrect contact numbers while other listed beneficiaries have no contact details at all.

The COA said that the TUPAD’s implementation in the NCR was also marred by other lapses such as nonobservance of workday limitations, beneficiaries receiving minimum pay regardless of the number of days that they worked, beneficiaries receiving less than the agreed amount and some beneficiaries “receiving financial assistance even without working.”

The DOLE Central Office, meanwhile, was called out over the P5.493-million fund it transferred to the local government of Lanao del Sur for supposed TUPAD implementation, which remained unliquidated as of Dec. 31, 2021.

The RO 3 (Central Luzon) was called out for releasing full payments to 885 TUPAD beneficiaries despite incomplete supporting documents such as signed contracts, barangay or LGU certification that the beneficiaries have performed the work, TUPAD identification number, as well as signature in the payroll form acknowledging receipt of salaries. The COA said that signatures of 20 beneficiaries also did not tally between the contract and the payroll form.

The COA, meanwhile, flagged the RO 10 (Northern Mindanao) over its failure “to thoroughly and diligently profile and evaluate the 618 identified beneficiaries,” citing the questionable community tax certificates (CTCs) which were used as basis for the identification of each beneficiary.

“Deficiencies such as identical serial numbers for two beneficiaries, issuance date on a non-working holiday, and jumbled serial numbers were noted in the CTCs,” COA said.

As for RO 13 (CARAGA), the COA said that a cash advance of P31.954 million, supposedly for payment of wages of 9,529 TUPAD beneficiaries, was granted to the cashier despite lack of supporting document.

The COA recommended to the DOLE to “investigate the incidents discovered by the audit team and institute immediate actions.”

The COA said that the DOLE must also require its program manager to revisit the existing guidelines on the implementation of the TUPAD program “especially if there are co-partners such as LGUs to avoid the incurrence of issues on payouts, selection of beneficiaries, etc.”

Just recently, the Office of the Ombudsman has launched a motu propio fact-finding investigation on the implementation of the TUPAD program following reports of alleged anomalies, especially in program’s implementation in Quezon City and the province of Palawan.

DOLE looking to ease employment requirements

Finding ways to make requirements in applying for local employment and becoming a regular worker easier is something the Department of Labor and Employment is now working on.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma told a press conference last Friday that it is necessary for the DOLE to simplify the requirements for job applicants as well as those applying for regularization of employment.

“It is burdensome to have applicants go back and forth (through the process),” Laguesma said in Filipino, adding that the move is on top of DOLE’s efforts to offer workers upgrading and skills training.

Also, the DOLE is undertaking a review of existing employment policies as well as the impact of the government-initiated job fairs in actually providing work to Filipinos, he said.

“Perhaps, you’ve noticed that we announce 100,000 or 10,000 vacancies in a job fair that lasts one or two days, (but) only 10 or 20 are immediately hired,” Laguesma said. “Maybe we should increase those numbers.”

The new labor chief said he wants to determine whether the low hiring rate is due to job and skills mismatch or whether the jobs being offered in fairs are non-existent.

“I want to talk to those providing that kind of information. Are those job vacancies really true and available or are they just pledges without actual hiring for work?” he quipped.

Laguesma said DOLE will also look into Philjobnet to see if the jobs are readily accessible to jobseekers. He said the requirements being asked from jobseekers must be easily complied with.

At present, the DOLE is already preparing for operational changes to be brought about by the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

He said the DOLE and the DMW will come out by next week with joint advisories to guide personnel and OFWs on the operational changes, including the budgetary allocations.

“Remember, the fund is allocated to the Department of Labor and Employment, so we are accountable for that and have to sort this out with DBM (Department of Budget and Management) for a smooth transfer,” said Laguesma.