SOME 2,444 identified beneficiaries from the 13 towns of Benguet received Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) payouts on Friday, July 24.
ACT-CIS Partylist Representative and Benguet caretaker Eric Go Yap, together with Department of Labor Employment (DOLE)-Cordillera Administrative Region and the local government unit of La Trinidad led the distribution of the payouts.
Yap said the second batch of DOLE's Tupad scheme is intended for disadvantaged members of the community, including displaced workers.
The payout for Benguet towns amounting to P21 million for the first and second tranche was initiated by Yap through the DOLE.
Emerito Narag, DOLE-Baguio Benguet field office head, said the beneficiaries in La Trinidad who received P3,500 each are cut-flower farmers, musicians, and family member of frontliners working at the Benguet General Hospital.
Narag added that Tupad beneficiaries are those who did not receive any Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare of Development.
Jesus Elpidio Atal Jr., DOLE-Cordillera assistant director, cited in his speech Benguet, with the highest allocation for Tupad program among Cordillera provinces.
He, together with Mayor Romeo Salda, thanked Yap for his assistance and efforts in helping the province.
Distribution for the second Tupad payout in Benguet started July 22 and 23 in the towns of Sablan, Itogon, and Tuba.
The payouts will continue in the remaining towns of the province until July 31.
La Trinidad had the most number of Tupad beneficiaries with 620, while 214 are in Kapangan, 193 in Tuba, 191 in Kabayan, 186 in Buguias, 178 in Itogon, 170 in Mankayan, 155 in Bokod, 122 in Tublay, 113 in Atok, 109 in Sablan, 97 in Bakun, and 96 in Kibungan.