Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — Residents from the typhoon-hit areas of Cagayan and Isabela may soon be granted emergency jobs to bounce back from the impact of Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco).
In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte and other Cabinet officials in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they will hire 10,000 flood victims in both provinces under the Tulong Panghanap-Buhay sa Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or the agency’s TUPAD program.
Bello added that he already authorized Isabela Governor Rodito Albano and Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba to hire workers who can clean up areas which were severely flooded when Ulysses barreled through these provinces.
“Sa TUPAD, ito iyong ating emergency employment program, binigyan po namin ng authority si Governor Mamba na mag-hire ng 5,000 tao para maglinis at mag-ayos sa lalawigan ng Cagayan,” Bello revealed.
“Ganoon din ang ibinigay namin kay Governor Albano ng Isabela na makapag-hire ng 5,000 workers para sila ang maglinis at mag-ayos ng lalawigan ng Isabela.”
[Translation: Under TUPAD, our emergency employment program, we gave Governor Mamba the authority to hire 5,000 people who can clean and fix the province. I also authorized Governor Albano to hire 5,000 workers to clean up and fix Isabela.]
Duterte then told Bello to pour out all funds needed to help the affected residents.
Early in November, the DOLE also promised to provide emergency employment to 5,000 victims from the provinces of Bicol Region, including Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Masbate which were severely hit by Super Typhoon Rolly.
At least ₱180 million worth of funds from the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act will be needed to finance TUPAD in the Bicol Region.
Bello did not specify how much will be needed to hire workers in Cagayan and Isabela.
The TUPAD program, as stated in DOLE’s website, will provide emergency employment for displaced 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.
These jobs could fall under social community projects such as repair and maintenance of public facilities; economic community projects like repair and maintenance of farm-to-market roads; and agro-forestry community projects such as tree planting and reforestation.
