DOLE PROGRAM HELPS 1T CEBU CITY RESIDENTS EARN EXTRA P5,490 EACH

Some 1,000 underemployed workers from 28 barangays in Cebu City received P5,490 each as their salary for cleaning clogged canals and sidewalks through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole). Lawyer Alvin M. Villamor, Dole 7 director, said that TUPAD provides transitional work to qualified beneficiaries for a number of days. “Beneficiaries worked for 15 days in various identified social, economic and agro-forestry community activities in several areas covered,” said Villamor, adding that workers received the minimum wage. Underemployed persons are those who want to have additional hours of work in their present job or in an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours. Under the revised guidelines for the implementation of the Dole Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), the beneficiaries’ length of work may vary from a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of the work. Dole 7 earmarked P10.2 million for the salaries of the beneficiaries, who also got insurance coverage under the Government Service Insurance System. They were also given personal protective equipment. The beneficiaries’ work ran from June 14 to 27, which concentrated on the cleaning of roadsides and declogging of canals and gutters. The beneficiaries are from Barangays Labangon, Pamutan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sudlon, Pahina Central, San Nicholas, Sapangdaku, Bonbon, Tabunan, Sudlon 2, To-ong, Tagba-o, Babag, Buot, Buhisan, Poblacion Pardo, Pasil, Inayawan, Guadalupe, Sawang Calero, Duljo-Fatima, Cogon Pardo, Basak San Nicholas, Calamba, Bulacao, Quiot, Punta Princesa and Suba. TUPAD is one of the two components of DILEEP, the department’s contribution to the government’s agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and poverty reduction.