OVER P7 million worth of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) assistance was given out during the Labor Day edition of the Integrated Sustainable Assistance Recovery and Advancement Program (Isarap), the second round for the Negros Occidental leg held at the Manuel Torres Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City Sunday, May 1, 2022.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas turned over checks worth a total of P7,271,300 to seven barangays, namely, Barangays 12, 35 and 14 in Bacolod City; Barangay Concepcion in Talisay City; Barangay 1-Poblacion in Hinigaran; Barangay Caradio-an in Himamaylan City; and Barangay 6 in San Carlos City, benefiting some 1,691 Tupas workers.
DOLE-Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director lawyer Dax Villaruel read the Labor Day message of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III who acknowledged the challenges faced by the Filipino workforce in the past two years during the pandemic but saluted the same for showing courage and grit amid all these challenges that contributed to the nation’s economic recovery.
“On behalf of the Department of Labor and Employment, I assure you of our relentless commitment to upholding the rights and safeguarding the welfare of Filipino workers,” Bello in his read statement said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Reclamation Authority General Manager and Lead Convenor of Isarap in Western Visayas lawyer Jan Rubiato said the program just proved that the government has resources.
With Isarap, the government can go straight to the people, he said.
“This is the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte to us. We have the government funds, we have the resources, we need to find a way to reach the people, straight,” Rubiato said, expressing elation with the turnout of beneficiaries for the Isarap’s final kick. (PR)