THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI continuously offered emergency employment through their Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to help various workers affected due to the closure of businesses.
In an interview on Sept. 17, Atty. Jason Balais, DOLE XI assistant regional director, said the immediate response could help bridge displaced workers for the next 10-15 days to generate income as they look for new employment opportunities.
“Our package of assistance stems from ensuring compliance to separation requirements, to emergency employment, to employment facilitation for them,” Balais said.
Balais said workers could be given opportunities to apply through their Public Employment Service Offices and other job vacancies.
“Of course, we should ensure first that when they close, they have already secured their separation pay and their other entitlements,” he said.
From 2022 to the first semester of 2024, TUPAD has provided assistance amounting to P3.5 billion to 591,107 beneficiaries in Davao Region, under DOLE XI’s Social Protection for Vulnerable Workers Strengthened program.
A total of P152 million were also released to 16,000 beneficiaries through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, and assisted 8,667 child laborers through their Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program, “rescuing them from hazardous work environments and safeguarding their well-being and future.”
