CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – At least 6,650 beneficiaries here who survived Typhoon Odette last year received their salaries from the emergency employment scheme of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a statement Monday, DOLE–Northern Mindanao (DOLE-10) said Director Albert E. Gutib led the payout series of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) from 20 low-lying barangays in the city between February 23 and March 9.
DOLE-10 - Cagayan de Oro City Field Office Chief Emmanuel G. Toledo said most of the beneficiaries lost their belongings and houses were destroyed by the heavy rains and flooding.
Toledo said the majority of the beneficiaries were informal sector workers – ambulant vendors, pedicab drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, marginalized fisherfolk, small farmers, solo parents, and persons with disabilities.
Out of the 6,650 beneficiaries, 3,382 were women informal sector workers.
One of the beneficiaries was Linda Lubid, of Barangay Puntod, who has been suffering from goiter and was temporarily displaced from her work as a security guard and deprived of any medication.
Her condition was aggravated when Typhoon Odette hit the area, and she could barely afford to supply her family’s basic needs.
“I can now buy medicines through my TUPAD salary,” Lubid said.
Another was pedicab driver-beneficiary Kein C. Torrepalma, 24, who said the pandemic disrupted his source of income.
During the typhoon, his house was destroyed by the flooding and most of his belongings were lost.
TUPAD is temporary emergency employment offered under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program to the displaced or disadvantaged workers.
Beneficiaries under this program will be given an average of 10 to 90 days’ work with compensation based on the prevailing highest minimum wage in the region. (PNA)
