P41M paid to 4,500 TUPAD Boracay workers

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has released P41.6-million for 4,484 worker-beneficiaries under Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD ) in Boracay Island.

PHOTO DOLE 6

The workers from the informal sector were hired in three batches to assist in the ongoing clean-up and rehabilitation works, according to Labor and Employment Officer III Methuselah Norma Janabon of DoLE-Aklan.

TUPAD beneficiaries earned a one-month salary at P323.50 rate per day or more than P9,000 for the emergency employment.

These workers served as porters, boatmen and masseurs before President Rodrigo Duterte placed the three barangays of Yapak, Manoc-Manoc and Balabag under state of calamity starting April 26.

Janabon said the workers were deployed in the beachfronts in three barangays as well as wetlands No. 6 and 8 for the clean-up.

“May team leaders ang TUPAD workers para sa pag-report sa DoLE ng mga kailangan nila. May monitoring din ang DoLE sa tulong ng government-hired interns. Ang third batch ng TUPAD workers nagtapos noong August 11,” she stressed.

Janabon said DoLE will hire the 4th batch of worker-beneficiaries to help in the clearing of debris of Boracay roads. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently rehabilitating the 12-meter main road from Cagban (Manoc-Manoc) to Elizalde (Balabag).

So far, the agency had 13,675 applications in three barangays under the Boracay Emergency Employment Program-Adjustment Measures Program (BEEP-AMP).

Janabon said they also disbursed P107,640,371 for 8,032 displaced workers and about 5,647 applications are still being processed for BEEP-AMP.

“Madodoble ang applicants for the next two months. Marami ang applicants ngayon kaysa sa pag-umpisa namin noong Mayo,” she added.

The agency also urged accredited co-partners – Boracay Women’s Producers Association, Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) and Boracay Ati Tribal Association to submit their proposals for DoLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

Last July 8, DoLE released P1-million check for the rice trading and retailing program of Malay Association Sailing Boat Owner’s Incorporated -Multi-purpose Cooperative (Masboi-MPC).

The agency also hired 166 new graduates under the government internship program to fast track the profiling and encoding of formal and informal workers in Boracay Island.

The government interns were paid P1.7-million for their salaries or 75 percent of the prevailing minimum daily wage.