Davao: Over 5,400 individuals affected by the powerful earthquakes that hit the Davao Region last week will benefit from emergency employment provided by the government through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE 11 (Davao Region) Director, lawyer Randolf Pensoy, stated that a total of 5,450 people will benefit from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, with an allocation of over PHP28 million across the region. Some 4,950 beneficiaries will come from Davao Oriental, while the remaining 500 will be from Davao City, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental. Pensoy noted that included in the PHP28 million fund is PHP2.5 million earmarked for beneficiaries in other parts of the region.
The majority of the beneficiaries will come from the municipality of Manay, the hardest-hit town by the recent tremors. They will engage in debris segregation, materials recovery, stockpiling, clearing operations, and waste management activities in affected areas. The emergency employment program will run for 10 days starting Oct. 13. Pensoy emphasized that the allocated amount is inclusive of micro-insurance coverage for all beneficiaries to ensure their safety and protection while performing rehabilitation-related tasks.
The DOLE official reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to extending immediate support to displaced workers through emergency employment. ‘Through TUPAD, we aim to help workers rebuild their lives by providing temporary income and livelihood while contributing to the restoration of their communities,’ Pensoy said.
On Oct. 10, two earthquakes, recorded at magnitudes 7.6 and 6.8, occurred with the epicenter traced to Manay town, severely impacting some other municipalities and displacing thousands of families. As of Oct. 11, the provincial government of Davao Oriental reported 70,142 affected families across the province, with the highest numbers in the municipalities of Governor Generoso, Banaybanay, and Manay.