SAN JOSE, Antique – Antiqueño sugar migrants and other locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who were repatriated may now avail themselves of livelihood under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers #Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (TUPAD #BKBK) program.
DOLE-Antique director Melisa Navarra said on June 9 that they are requesting local government units (LGUs) to assist and submit the names of their respective sugar migrants, LSIs and those who belong to the informal sector as the agency is set to implement the third batch of the program.
“The third batch of the TUPAD#BKBK program is being targeted to be implemented in Antique on June 15,” said Navarra.
According to her, DOLE-Antique has allocated around P30 million for the wages of 8,000 TUPAD beneficiaries.
“Each TUPAD beneficiary could receive a P395 wage daily,” Navarra added.
The TUPAD#BKBK is a 10-day program wherein beneficiaries carry out works such as disinfection and cleaning of their own homes and backyard gardening while staying at home due to the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The LGUs, at the end of the 10-day work, will validate and certify that beneficiaries were able to carry out their tasks to get paid.
“TUPAD beneficiaries will get their pay through money remittance,” Navarra said.
There are some 1,644 sugar migrants – locally known as “sacadas” – who have returned in this province from Negros Occidental by batches on May 18 to June 8.
“Other LSIs and informal sectors who were not able to avail themselves of the Social Amelioration Program or the Aid to Individual in Crisis Situation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development may also apply for the TUPAD program,” Navarra said.
Families who were also unable to avail themselves of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program of DOLE may also avail themselves of the 10-day project.
The first batch of TUPAD#BKBK program in this province helped 400 beneficiaries last April 8 to 17. The second batch, on the other hand, had 2,800 beneficiaries who conducted works from April 29 to May 8. “The wages of the TUPAD beneficiaries in the first and second batches were already paid,” Navarra said. (PNA/PN)
