CLARK FREEPORT -- At least 2,384 beneficiaries from Olongapo City received salary from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Central Luzon.
Under Dole-Central Luzon’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (Tupad) program, the beneficiaries received a total of over P19.5 million salary for rendering 20 days of work.
Dole-Central Luzon chief Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the pay-out for the first 10 days happened on December 28, 2019 at Asinan Covered Court, Olongapo while the second tranche of pay-out for the same beneficiaries was on January 23, 2020 at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, SBFZ.
Mercedes Francisco Risando, 83 years old, was one of the individuals that benefited from the program. She lives alone in Barangay New Cabalan where she switches from cleaning roads and yards, scavenging, and doing laundry to afford her daily expenses.
“Working under the Tupad program really means a lot. It has helped many especially those that are poor and old like me,” Risando said.
According to Dole Zambales Head Reynante Lugtu, the beneficiaries were assigned in cleaning and greening their respective areas, brigada eskwela, and cleanup of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone from December 3 to 12, 2019 and December 13 to 22, 2019.
In a short message during the payout, Lugtu encouraged the residents of Olongapo to continue what they have started.
“Let us relive volunteerism and continue the 20 days of cleanliness you have started,” Lugtu said.
Tupad is a community-based livelihood program that aims to provide displaced, seasonal, underemployed workers and other marginalized individuals with alternative employment for a maximum of 30 days.