TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the irrigators’ associations (IAs), launched the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) for the irrigators’ associations in the region during the 10th General Assembly of the CAR Federation of Irrigators’ Associations (CARFIA) held at Davidson Hotel in Brgy. Bulanao of this municipality on August 10, 2023.
A strengthened collaboration among the DOLE, NIA and the IAs was formed through the signing of a covenant in support of the TUPAD towards effective and efficient irrigation service.
Members of the IAs will mainly be engaged in TUPAD through the clearing and maintenance activities of the irrigation systems.
The TUPAD is a community-based emergency employment program of the DOLE that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployment, and seasonal workers for a minimum period of ten days, but not exceeding to 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed per DOLE’s guidelines.
Part of the launching of the TUPAD for IAs during the said CARFIA assembly is the awarding of checks by Dr. Avelina Manganip of DOLE-Kalinga representing DOLE-CAR Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra for the clearing of the national irrigation systems —P350,000.00 to the Abra Timpuyog Dagiti Farmers Irrigators’ Federation for the main canal clearing of the Abra River Irrigation System; P350,000.00 to the UCRIS-Tabuk & Pinukpuk Federation of IA for the Upper Chico River Irrigation System; and, P300,000.00 to the Wagufi Federation of IA (Ifugao) for the Hapid Irrigation System.
According to Paulita Yagyagan, chief of the NIA-CAR Institutional Development Unit, the facilities for the TUPAD program include the main canals of NISs which are not covered under the Irrigation Management Contract (IMT) with the IAs.
NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr. said that he is positive that the TUPAD for other IAs in the other provinces of CAR being requested from the DOLE will be approved very soon.
“Orientations will soon be conducted for those irrigators who will be tapped for the TUPAD program as there are some guidelines that need to be followed in the implementation of TUPAD,” Dr. Manganip said.
The TUPAD program for the IAs towards better irrigation service is part of the convergence program of the different government agencies towards President Marcos’ agenda of more enhanced agricultural development.
