5,033 Benguet folks get Tupad cash for work

By Susan C. Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - - More than 5,000 workers displaced due to  Covid-19 pandemic were recipients of  the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (Tupad) financial assistance or cash for work program of the government.
    The 5,033 individuals were identified as recipients based on the profile submitted by the barangay and the respective municipal Public Employment Services Office of the 13 towns, according to Dept. of Labor and Employment provincial director Emerito Narag.
    Each recipient was allotted   P5,250  to compensate for   15-day work  with  daily wage of P350 per day   which is the highest minimum daily wage in Cordillera. 
    This is part of the P30 million Tupad funding for the first quarter under the Office of Caretaker and ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap coursed through the DOLE.
    Yap has allotted from his office funds a total of P180 million under the Tupad program for the whole year this 2021.
    Aside from the wages, the amount also includes purchase of personal protective equipment  and group insurance of the workers, said Narag.
     Yap, Gov. Melchor Diclas and DOLE staff went to municipalities from May 19 until May 28 to distribute the payouts.
    Breakdown of recipients per municipality: Bokod, 360; Kabayan, 465; Mankayan, 430; Buguias, 500; Bakun, 255; Atok, 289; Tublay, 290; La Trinidad, 574; Kibungan, 255; Kapangan, 535; Itogon, 325; Sablan, 290; and Tuba, 465.
    Narag said recipients could avail of the financial assistance only once. Although the congressman has allotted an amount for the whole year, Narag said the schedule of the succeeding releases per quarter depends on the advise of disbursement limits issued by the DOLE. – PIA Benguet