Livelihood, employment for Mobo town

Masbate --- The impact of the disasters on people’s communities and livelihoods can be devastating, especially for those already living at or below the poverty line and engaged in vulnerable forms of employment.

To reduce the vulnerability to risks of the working poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers, the Labor Department in Bicol through its Masbate Provincial Office distributed livelihood tools and equipment and released a check for the salaries of TUPAD workers in Mobo, Masbate on Friday.

Regional Director Maria Zenaida A. Angara-Campita together with Assistant RD Atty. Marion S. Sevilla and DOLE Masbate Provincial Office Head Lynette H. Dela Fuente turned over 65 fiberglass boats to fisherfolks with a total amount of PhP1,925,482.00. Likewise, they awarded Kabuhayan packages such as refrigerator, chiller, gas stove, and other kitchen utensils amounting to Php412,646.70 to 37 members of FABRICA Eco-Tourism Fishermen Cooperative (ECO-FICO).

RD Campita said there is a need to ensure the sustainability of jobs and livelihoods in disasterprone areas like the coastal municipality of Mobo in the island province of Masbate, wherein its people primarily depend on fishing and agriculture for their income and livelihood.

“Inyo pong pagyamanin ang mga assistance na ibinigay ng ating gobyerno at sana ay makatulong ito sa pang araw-araw ninyong kabuhayan. Nais naming umunlad ang inyong buhay ng bawat isa sainyo,” Campita added.

Present also during the awarding was Reymund Osmundo N. Salvacion, Municipal Mayor of Mobo, Pablito P. Lusanta LEO I/DILP Focal, Jayson Nuñez, Livelihood Development Specialist (LDS), Marieta R. Gomez, LDS and Monique Anne Peralta, PC.

Meanwhile, DOLE Bicol awarded a check amounting to Php987,525.00 to LGU Mobo for TUPAD salaries of 171 worker-worker-beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries who were self-employed with insufficient income, fishermen, women, PWDs, low-wage and seasonal workers, senior citizens, and displaced workers were grateful for the livelihood package they received.

TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

DILP is a flagship program of the DOLE that seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce vulnerability to risks of the working poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers either through emergency employment, promotion of entrepreneurship, and community enterprises.

Data from: Pablito P. Lusanta, Masbate LIO-Designate#serbisyongmabilisatdekalidadamingresponsibilidad