Mayor Francis Garcia distributing face masks to Tupad beneficiaries. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY – Displaced workers numbering 4,736 from the second district of Bataan cleaned barangays and went into community vegetable gardening while at the same time being paid for the effort as part of a program of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Rep. Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III on Wednesday said the workers were beneficiaries of DOLE’s Tulong Panghanap-buhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) funded in his district for P29 million. Under the second district are the towns of Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles and Bagac, and Balanga City.
In Balanga City, the project’s beneficiaries were 1,300 tricycle drivers who were dislocated from their main source of income because of the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The drivers were assigned in cleaning canals, rivers and sidewalks of their respective villages and planted vegetables in barangay gardens.
Those who worked for 15 days received P6,500 while those for 10 days were paid P4,200. Tarpaulins with the reminder on observing safety and health protocols relative to Covid–19 were attached to their tricycles.
They received their payouts Wednesday. Lailani Reynoso, DOLE provincial director, said at least the workers have something for Christmas.
Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia said through the initiative of his brother Joet, they were able to source out from DOLE P5 million and P1 million fom partylist Ang Probinsiyano.
“Magtulong-tulong tayong lahat para sama-samang makaraos sa pandemic dahil kung nagtutulungan ay lalong mas malakas. Laging maging maingat,” the mayor said.
Francis distributed facemasks to the tricycle drivers.
The congressman said he challenged the beneficiaries that after being paid by DOLE, they still have to continue tending the vegetable gardens to help in the food needs of their families and the community.
Joet said for 2021, the House of Representatives targeted the allocation of P20 million to P25 million per district for Tupad beneficiaries.
“In terms of projects for beneficiaries, ang hinahanap ng Kongreso ay ang sustainable kaya ang pagtatanim ay isa na dito at paglilinis pero mas gusto nila ay ang mayroong balik sa miyembro para hindi lang one–time kung hindi programang pwede pa nilang maipagpatuloy,” Joet said.
“Pinili namin ang pagtatanim para kahit matanda o bata ay madaling gawin ang trabaho nang ligtas laban sa Covid–19,” the congressman added.
He said that barangay officials identify the beneficiaries of the program.
