DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (File photo)
MANILA – Private sector workers affected by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck the Sarangani, Davao Occidental on Nov. 17 will be provided with emergency employment, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday.
The employment assistance is under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, according to Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
"I have already given instruction to our DOLE regional office on the matter," he said in a telephone interview.
Laguesma added they are waiting for the official report from field officials to determine the budget for the emergency employment program.
The TUPAD community-based assistance program provides jobs for 10 to 30 days. The salary is based on the existing minimum wage rate in the region.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 826 houses were damaged while 2,489 families or 12,885 people in 43 villages in the Davao Region and Soccsksargen were affected.
The report of nine fatalities is under validation. (PNA)
