Manila, Philippines - Senator Francis Escudero has called for an expansion of the Department of Labor's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. This initiative aims to provide additional assistance to victims of natural calamities in the Philippines.
According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero proposed the allocation of PHP500 million from the President's calamity fund to serve as a Quick Response Fund (QRF) for this purpose.
Escudero's suggestion involves carving out a portion of the calamity fund for DOLE to use in the TUPAD program, specifically targeting the recovery of people in areas affected by natural disasters. He expressed confidence that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would support this initiative, given the close working relationship with the Labor Secretary.
The senator proposed that the TUPAD program, which currently offers emergency employment for a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 30 days to displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers, be extended to cover calamity victims. This idea is modeled after a local program Escudero implemented during his tenure as governor of Sorsogon, where affected constituents were employed until they recovered from typhoon impacts.
Escudero also suggested amendments to the program, including provisions for extending the program's implementation beyond 90 days and allowing beneficiaries to participate more than once in a calendar year if it aids their recovery from calamities, pandemics, or tragedies. Additionally, he recommended including severely wasted parents or siblings in the program, with a duration of at least 180 days, and specifying the amount to be set aside as QRF for DOLE's TUPAD program in calamity-stricken areas.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, responsible for sponsoring DOLE's budget for 2024, commended Escudero's proposal, referring to it as 'brilliant.' Legarda assured that a special provision would be introduced in the General Appropriations Bill to ensure the sustainability of the TUPAD program.