DOLE ‘Tupad’ cash aid reaches 2.9 million workers

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. (File photo by GRIC C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The total number of displaced workers from the formal and informal labor sectors that have benefitted from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) aid program has reached 2.9 million, the agency said on Thursday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III announced this during a ceremonial program for the payout of 1,500 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program assistance in Candaba, Pampanga on Thursday.

According to Bello, DOLE has already disbursed a total of P12 billion as salaries of the displaced workers who were hired by the government for temporary employment in exchange for community services.

Bello, however, reminded beneficiaries to make sure that they will only receive the exact amount, or else they should not take it.

“Pagka hindi 4,200 ang mare-receive niyo, huwag niyong tanggapin. Kailangan kumpleto ang ibigay sa inyo. Four thousand two hundred, ‘yan ang suweldo ninyo sa pagtrabaho ninyo ng sampung araw (If it’s not exactly a total of P4,200, don’t take it. They should give you the exact amount. Four thousand two hundred pesos is your overall salary for working within 10 days),” Bello said in a statement.

According to DOLE, The standard rate for Tupad payout in Region 3 is P420 per day or a total of P4,200 for 10 days.

Meanwhile, P6,909,000 was distributed earlier today to Tupad beneficiaries in Candaba during the said program.

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JPV