As Davao Region adopts to the new normal, the Department of Labor and Employment XI (DOLE) ensures that the informal sector workers are still given the necessary assistance to address the impact of the pandemic especially to their livelihood.

Through its Davao del Sur Field Office (DOLE-DSFO), a total of 1,076 beneficiaries in the province received their wages under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program in several payout activities on April 5-7, 2022. Most of the beneficiaries were farmers, fisherfolk, tricycle drivers, and ambulant vendors.

Out of the total number, 792 beneficiaries have incurred 15 days of community work from March 16-30, 2022 and each received a salary of Php 5,940.00. Others worked for 10 days from March 21-30, 2022 and each received a salary of Php 396.00.00.

Meanwhile, DOLE-IGaCoS Satellite Office facilitated the release of Php 1,191,960.00 TUPAD wages to 301 beneficiaries. Some 1,245 informal sector workers in Brgy. Baliok, Toril, Davao City also received their salary amounting to a total of Php 4,930,000.00 on April 1, 2022. The payout activities were led by Assistant Regional Director Atty. Jason P. Balais and Technical Services and Support Division Chief Paul V. Cruz.

In a press conference in Davao City on April 7, 2022, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III assured the public that the incoming national elections will not hamper the operations of TUPAD Program in delivering assistance to the informal sector and marginalized workers.

Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy added that the Office is expediting its assistance through TUPAD as the program has been made one of the Department’s post-COVID intervention measures to help the informal sector workers recover from loss of income.###MFKM/EGS/DISO/DCFO