More Karding-affected workers to receive aid

MANILA, Philippines — At least 29,000 more informal workers in Central Luzon displaced by Super Typhoon Karding will receive assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment.

DOLE-Central Luzon director Geraldine Panlilio said over the weekend that a total of P365 million has been allocated for the workers’ emergency employment program.

The program will be implemented in partnership with local government units in the region and their respective public employment service offices.

Panlilio said 14,000 beneficiaries are currently covered by the program.

The additional 29,000 workers will be employed next week.

The assistance to typhoon-affected workers is being implemented through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or the TUPAD program, which was also tapped during the pandemic.

The DOLE regional office disbursed the salaries of 31,333 TUPAD beneficiaries in Bataan, Bulacan and Tarlac right after the typhoon’s onslaught last week.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the agency has available funds if the initial allocation would not be sufficient for the implementation of the TUPAD program.

The government initially allocated P455.6 million for the ongoing implementation of its emergency employment program in areas in Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) devastated by Karding.

Under the program, informal sector workers will be employed for a minimum of 10 days to assist in clearing, cleaning, declogging of canals, debris segregation, material recovery and other activities needed in the rehabilitation of their communities.

Panlilio said the DOLE-Central Luzon coordinated with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the carpentry skills training of workers in Aurora, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

“The beneficiaries will not only work for 10 days, but will also undergo carpentry skills training. This way, they will not only construct their own homes, but they might be hired by construction companies,” Panlilio said.

Meanwhile, Exequiel Ronie Guzman, chief of DOLE-Calabarzon, said P90.6 million was allocated initially for the emergency employment of informal sector workers displaced by Karding.

There are about 19,800 workers in Calabarzon including on Polilio Island and Burdeos town, who stand to benefit from the program.