The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released PHP328 million as wages for an emergency employment program benefitting 66,357 workers from the Ilocos Region during the first half of 2023.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, DOLE Ilocos regional office stated that emergency workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) rendered labor input in various community projects.

Beneficiaries were from Pangasinan with 28,111 workers, followed by Ilocos Norte with 18,633, Ilocos Sur with 14,817, and La Union with 4,796.

Of the total amount, PHP308 million was released as wages for the TUPAD beneficiaries, PHP15.3 million for the payment of their personal protective equipment, and PHP3.7 million for insurance.

“While it is apparent that economic activities are steadily returning to normal, some of our constituents are still grappling with the economic impacts of the pandemic,” said DOLE Ilocos regional director Exequiel Ronie Guzman in the statement.

He added that the program is aligned with the country’s initiatives on employment recovery.

Each TUPAD worker earned PHP400 per day, for the duration of the specific community work which usually took 10-15 days allowing beneficiaries to receive PHP4,000 to PHP6,000 under the project.

“Hence, the TUPAD is still here to serve as a vehicle for our low-income and marginalized workers to transition towards more sustainable economic undertakings,” Guzman said. (PNA)