KABUGAO, Apayao – Close to a thousand displaced and disadvantaged workers in Lower Apayao received a much-needed boost after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Apayao released PhP6,859,650 in wages under the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) program.
A total of 973 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Luna (359), Pudtol (208), Sta. Marcela (244), and Flora (162) were paid for completing 15 days of temporary work in their respective barangays. The payout was held on Thursday, March 27, and was facilitated in partnership with the Office of the Congresswoman, municipal government units, public employment service offices, and SWAD-Apayao.
The jobs varied from roofing and repainting school buildings to riprapping, canal clearing, Materials Recovery Facility repair, landscaping, tourism site cleanups, community gardening, and the construction of washing areas and kiosks. They were also tapped to support barangay-based gardening activities.
“Dakkel a pasalamat ta dakkel ti tulong na daytoy nangruna ta awan ti pagsapulan mi tatta,” said Rosemarie Sawit, a solo parent from Brgy. Calayucay, Luna. “Pang allowance ti ubbing ken igatang ti masapsapol ti inaldaw-aldaw,” she added.
Christian Pamittan from San Jose, Pudtol, added, “Dagidiay inted da nga inubrami ket pagsayaatan iti barangay mi.” For him, the work they did was the kind of work that left a visible mark.
TUPAD focal person Jhun Saleo-an also announced an increase in daily wage from PhP430 last year to PhP470 this year. Though the release was slightly delayed, he noted that improvements in wage rates are part of DOLE’s efforts to better support communities facing economic hardship.
With temporary jobs now finished and wages in hand, the program did more than just provide stopgap income, it kept local economies moving and made sure that communities saw concrete results from the work of their own people. By Diocen Tolentino
