BONTOC, Mountain Province – A total of 40 residents from Barangays Guina-ang and Mainit who have worked under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in collaboration with the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) received their wages during the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting held on August 20, 2024, in Guina-ang, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Of the total, 22 TUPAD workers are from Barangay Guina-ang while the remaining 18 are from Mainit. Each beneficiary received a total of P6,450 as compensation for 15 days of work at P430 per day. It is to be noted that this batch of TUPAD beneficiaries is funded under the regular fund of DOLE which is downloaded to the Bontoc LGU in response to Mayor’s request for funding.
The delivery of wages of TUPAD workers in the barangay forms part of the commitment of the Bontoc LGU in bringing government services to the grassroots-the community. This is to save them time and resources going to the Bontoc Municipal Capitol to transact.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, Sangguniang Bayan members Peter Kedawen and Timothy Pongad,Jr., and Guina-ang Punong Barangay Alexander Aowes led the turnover of the wages of the TUPAD workers. Also in attendance to facilitate the prompt and orderly distribution of wages of the workers are Labor and Employment Officer II Gladys Sawi of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Administrative Officer I Jenny Veer Cabfit from the Municipal Treasury Office, TUPAD Coordinators Alex Felix and Wilfred Gacusana, Jr.
In his message, Mayor Tudlong thanked the DOLE for its continuous support to the municipality. Tudlong assured that the Bontoc LGU will continue to collaborate with various agencies and national officials to source funds for the implementation and realization of programs that benefit the constituents.
This forms part of the present administration’s vision which is “ENLANGAKHA: Achieving the Vision for a Dynamic Bontoc.” One of its pillars is to Empower Communities.
“It is our hope that more TUPAD funds will be given to Bontoc to provide more benefits for the people,” he added.
The mayor has always been making most of his travels outside Mountain Province as he is persistent and enthusiastic in meeting with various national officials to submit funding proposals and follow up on the Bontoc LGU’s request for funding by the national government. Among these is funding for the TUPAD Program.
In response, the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the DOLE, Bontoc LGU, and partner government agencies for providing them an opportunity to work.
The TUPAD program is a community-based initiative of DOLE that provides temporary employment to individuals facing economic hardships, including displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
