It was evident how the pandemic hit the whole nation with a big blow especially on the economic stability and progress of one's country and true enough, there are certain actions by the government that needed a well deserve praise for not letting the people down despite of the uncertainty of the future.

By the end of December 2020, about P4.5 billion in wages was paid to nearly one million workers were affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and typhoons that hit the country, this is according to DOLE. These displaced workers were given immediate emergency employment to help them in start over from the crisis. 

Iloilo City Rep. Jam Baronda

Because of this great effort of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Iloilo City Rep. Jam Baronda lauded them for helping about a million workers in 2020 under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

“TUPAD is DOLE’s most successful program that has helped Filipinos who were unfortunately affected especially by the ongoing pandemic. Sec. Silvestre Bello III is the government’s Mr. Tupad,” said Baronda. 

Iloilo Rep. Baronda thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and Bello for helping thousands of displaced workers in the country. 

“The President’s mandate under the pandemic is to help millions of Filipinos through various means and TUPAD is one of them,” she said. 

The COVID-19 pandemic hit a lot of individuals, businesses and major establishments and as a result, there were workers and employees that are displaced and left without work and a life of uncertainty on how to move forward and feed their families according to Baronda.

“Through DOLE’s TUPAD, the government continues to provide help to displaced workers through employment,” she said.

According to DOLE, about 939,209 informal sector workers were assisted under TUPAD. Under the Bayanihan Act 2, P6 billion was allotted for the program. Beneficiaries were paid to work for 10 to 16 days. 

The DOLE expected the number of TUPAD beneficiaries to reach more than one million with funds still available for the program.