Displaced workers in Naga City get support from Sen. Bong Go

CEBU, Philippines — Displaced workers in Naga City received additional support from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team as part of ongoing efforts to provide temporary employment opportunities in rural areas.

In his message to the beneficiaries, Go said, “Sa kakaikot ko sa bansa, nakita ko kung gaano kahalaga ang pagbibigay ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga walang-wala, iyong mga hopeless at mga helpless.”

Go asserted that the current economy reflects various faces of struggle, with most people having a hard time getting back to work. He then thanked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for its programs that address these problems.

The payout was part of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of DOLE, which was rolled out at the Naalad Elementary School Covered Court.

Go explained the significance of the program, stating, “Ang TUPAD ay isang programa na layong makatulong sa mga kababayan nating walang trabaho o naapektuhan ang kabuhayan. Gamitin ninyo ang pagkakataon na ito upang makatulong sa inyong pamilya habang nakikibahagi sa muling pagbangon ng ating bayan.”

Around 50 displaced workers in Naga City benefited from the distribution, which included shirts, pens, fans, and balls, in coordination with local officials and displaced workers in Naga City, Cebu.

The event comes as Go continues to push Senate Bill No. 177, also known as the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), which aims to institutionalize TUPAD-like programs to provide temporary employment for poor, disadvantaged, displaced, or seasonal workers in rural communities nationwide.

“Bawat tulong na naibibigay natin ay isang hakbang papalapit sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan para sa ating mga kababayan. Sa abot ng aking makakaya ay tutulong ako sa ating mga kababayan, dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo,” Go remarked.

The proposed REAP law seeks to provide short-term work opportunities, from 10 to 90 days per year, and engage beneficiaries in community-based projects such as agricultural infrastructure rehabilitation, farm-to-market road construction, sanitation drives, and even remote digital work.

Go emphasized that the program is designed to boost income, develop skills, and support inclusive economic growth in rural areas, where poverty and unemployment remain high.

“Bigyan dapat natin ng oportunidad ang mga mahihirap na nasa kanayunan na magka-trabaho, magkaroon ng dagdag na kita, at makaraos sa hirap. Importante na sikapin nating walang magutom na pamilya,” Go said, highlighting the constitutional mandate for inclusive growth.

The bill also provides fair wages based on regional minimum rates, optional allowances for food and transportation, and access to micro-insurance to protect workers during accidents or emergencies.

Go noted that institutionalizing programs like TUPAD through REAP would address systemic rural unemployment, curb migration to urban centers, and strengthen countryside development, ensuring that marginalized communities are included in the country’s economic recovery. — /IHM (FREEMAN)