TUPAD offers diverse employment opportunities beyond street sweeping

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program is not limited to street cleaning alone but also offers other job opportunities.

In an interview, DOLE-Bicol Director Imelda Gatinao said that through collaboration with other government agencies, the program is enhanced and resources are maximized.

“The convergence project changes the public perception that TUPAD is solely focused on street cleaning; it also plays a significant role in employment generation, sustainable development goals, and overall economic growth,” she said.

The partnerships include the Department of Agriculture on training programs and initiatives for food security; the Department of Tourism in the restoration and beautification of tourist destinations, such as beach resorts; the National Irrigation Administration in cleaning and maintaining irrigation canals; the Department of Social Welfare and Development on programs related to water and food assistance and the Department of Agrarian Reform supporting vendors participating in the Kadiwa program.

Program beneficiaries not only engage in short-term work but also participate in training and skills development sessions.

“It expands the program’s reach, provides additional assistance to those in need, improves the targeting and selection of beneficiaries, and strengthens coordination with local stakeholders,” Gatinao said.

“The skills acquired can pave the way for self-employment or better job opportunities. Some agencies even offer livelihood assistance to beneficiaries after they participate in the program,” she added.

As of Aug.18, a total of 12,276 persons from the Bicol Region have benefited from the TUPAD convergence initiative.

“The collaboration combines the strengths, expertise, and resources of different agencies to create a greater collective impact,” Gatinao said. (PNA)

MORE THAN STREET SWEEPING. Beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged /Displaced Workers carry out clearing operations and desilting of irrigation canals and planting of vegetables along canal banks in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration in an undated photo in Camarines Norte. A total of 12,276 persons from the Bicol Region benefited from the convergence with other government agencies. (Photo courtesy of DOLE-5)