TARLAC CITY (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) distributed a total of P204,000 in wages to about 34 members of the Katutubong Burog Indigenous People Agricultural Cooperative under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
Conducted as part of the celebration of Philippine Independence Day and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and municipal government of Bamban, the initiative aims to provide immediate financial assistance to indigenous peoples while creating pathways for sustainable livelihood opportunities.
DOLE Tarlac Officer-in-Charge Jayson Ocampo highlighted that the project demonstrates how the TUPAD program can generate greater impact when linked with the livelihood interventions of partner agencies.
”Sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan ng DOLE, DA, LGU, at PESO, hindi lamang tayo nakapagbigay ng agarang kita sa ating mga katutubong manggagawa, kundi nakapaglatag din tayo ng pundasyon para sa pangmatagalang kabuhayan at mas inklusibong kaunlaran sa lalawigan ng Tarlac (Through the collaboration of DOLE, DA, LGU, and PESO, we are not only providing immediate income for indigenous workers but also creating a foundation for long-term livelihood opportunities and inclusive development in the province of Tarlac,” he said.
The cooperative was previously selected by the DA as a beneficiary of its Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo Program, through which they received 150 ube (purple yam) tubers.
Building on this support, DOLE provided the cooperative members with 10 days of emergency employment to plant the ube tubers across two hectares of land, enabling each beneficiary to earn P6,000 in wages upon completion of the work.
The crop is expected to yield a harvest by November, with the produce to be processed into ube powder and sold directly to Market Reach Company, creating a potential source of long-term income for the cooperative.
By integrating emergency employment with agricultural enterprise development, the initiative not only addresses the immediate needs of indigenous workers but also helps strengthen their economic resilience and participation in local value chains.
This supports the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in promoting inclusive growth, employment generation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for underserved communities through coordinated government interventions. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
