TACLOBAN CITY – Some 290 beneficiaries were recently identified by the City Government under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez to avail of an Emergency Employment Program implemented jointly by the Local Government Unit and the  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 8.  Under the program,  beneficiaries will be employed in various community works for a period of 30 days and be paid a minimum wage.

The Tulong Panghanap Buhay para sa mga Displaced/Disadvantaged  (TUPAD) Workers Program  which aims to strengthen social protection  of the vulnerable sector by enhancing  access to emergency employment and livelihood program is currently being implemented in the City as part of the  continuing rehabilitation efforts of Mayor Romualdez.

Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Emilia Cruz disclosed  that under the DOLE Program the  City Government availed of a 2.5 Million Pesos Grant so it can provide employment opportunities to vulnerable City residents.

According to Cruz  the workers  who were identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), City Veterinary Office (CVO) and City Engineers Office (CEO) will be paid a daily minimum wage of  260 pesos and  employed in the Northern part of the City to help repair the Senior Citizen’s Office, perform the dredging and declogging of drainage canals and the Tanghas-Lirang Creek, construction of pigpens and communal gardens at the Northern Barangays.

Drug surrenderers of the Drug Rehabilitation Program of the City Government New Beginnings were also included for the emergency livelihood program as part of their social preparation activities and to help augment their meager resources.

On Monday,  May 8, TUPAD Beneficiaries attended a one-day orientation on Occupational Safety and Health at the Tacloban City Training Center organized by DOLE and PESO which was  attended by OIC Regional Joel Gonzales of DOLE, City Information Officer Bernardita Valenzuela and other City Government officials.

The workers were provided with personal protective equipment that included, appropriate clothing, gloves, boots and hard hat before commencing work.- HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO