Thousands

It is very much in these trying times that we, as public servants, have to intensify our efforts so we can bring to our people the appropriate programs that will help them in alleviating the difficulties as a result of loss of employment and livelihoods,” Bello said.

Meanwhile, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap expressed her gratitude to DOLE for its continuous assistance to the province. According to her, the agency has been generous to the province, allotting more than ?10 million of its TUPAD program prior to the March lockdown.

The payout of wages under the Provincial Government of Tarlac (PGT) is scheduled in batches from December 18 to 23, 2020. Aside from the 180 worker-beneficiaries from all 18 LGUs in the province, DOLE also released wages of beneficiaries from the municipalities of Gerona (226 beneficiaries), Victoria (280 beneficiaries), San Jose (140 beneficiaries), and Tarlac City (205 beneficiaries). The Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office No. III also distributed P780,000 to 78 OFWs under the DOLE AKAP program and ?90,000 for three OFW dependents under the Tabang OFW. 24 OFWs also received various assistance from OWWA such as livelihood, social benefits, and welfare assistance while 12 dependents of OFWs received their scholarship assistance. In an interview, Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said that the department is in close coordination with partner agencies and LGUs in the implementation of its various programs. "Our goal is to be able to release our funds before the holidays and we’re working double and triple time to accomplish this,” Campita said. As of December 18, DOLE Regional Office No. III already released over ?598 million to 119,602 formal sector workers under COVID19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and P488.61 million to 87,002 workers under TUPAD Bayanihan 2.