EMERGENCY WORK. Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) workers in Ilocos Sur clean the debris from the earthquake on Wednesday (July 27, 2022). The Department of Labor and Employment Ilocos regional office has immediately employed workers after the disaster. (Photo courtesy of DOLE Ilocos)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – National government agencies are providing assistance in various forms to the individuals and families in the Ilocos Region affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake on Wednesday.
In a press briefing hosted by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Philippine Information Agency Ilocos Region on Thursday, Department of Labor and Employment Ilocos regional director lawyer Evelyn Ramos said they have started the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) for some 750 workers in eight municipalities in Ilocos Sur.
“They were tapped to do clearing, clean-up debris from the recent earthquake, and recycling projects. We have allotted PHP4.8 million for this program and each of the workers will receive PHP5,550 at the end of the 15-day work period,” she said.
TUPAD will also be implemented in the other provinces of the Ilocos Region.
“We are coordinating with the Department of Education for the TUPAD workers to help in the repair of damaged classrooms,” Ramos said.
She said they are also collaborating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide training to other displaced workers of establishments that have temporarily closed due to the effects of the earthquake.
“We are also urging the establishments to coordinate with us so we would know how we may be able to help them following the disaster,” she added.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Ilocos (DSWD-1) regional assistant director for operations Marlene Febes Peralta said they have prepared stockpiles of family food packs, non-food items, and financial assistance to the victims of the earthquake in the region.
As of July 28, DSWD-1 has 17,402 family food packs, 11,515 non-food items, and a PHP2.7 million quick response fund (QRF).
“We are ready to answer requests of the local government units (LGUs) for relief goods and assistance deployed in our satellite warehouses all over the region. If there is a need to augment those in the satellite warehouses, the regional office is ready to augment,” she said.
She added they are assisting in the needs of evacuees in the region.
As of Thursday, Peralta said there are 683 families or 2,510 individuals in 11 evacuation centers in the region, and 459 families or 2,082 individuals outside of evacuation centers, or are staying with their relatives.
She said those whose houses have been damaged may also request assistance from the DSWD.
There are 103 partially damaged houses and 121 totally damaged houses in the region.
Meanwhile, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center and the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in the Ilocos Region have deployed personnel and medical equipment to Abra province to help with the medical needs of quake-hit areas. (PNA)
