TARLAC CITY (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided temporary income support to about 312 jeepney drivers in Tarlac City, through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Tuloy Pasada program, releasing a total of P2.754 million in wages.
This payout marked the completion of the first TUPAD Tuloy Pasada rollout in Tarlac, which provided temporary employment to transport workers, particularly members of transport cooperatives verified by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, amid the global fuel crisis.
DOLE Tarlac Officer-in-Charge Jason Ocampo emphasized that the implementation of TUPAD Tuloy Pasada in Tarlac demonstrates DOLE’s commitment to providing timely assistance and temporary employment to transport workers, particularly jeepney drivers.
“Through this initiative, we continue to support their livelihood and help address the challenges faced by the local transport sector,” he added.
The beneficiaries completed 15 days of jeepney operations from July 16 to August 20, 2026, covering routes from Burot Arko to Common Terminal (near Uniwide), Macabulos-Matatalaib-Maliwalo or 3M, and Old Petron Balingcanaway to Common Terminal in Tarlac City.
During the payout, each driver received P9,000 each in wages for the 15 days of work.
Rodel Suing, chairperson of the San Jose-San Manuel-Balingcanaway Transport Service Cooperative and one of the beneficiaries, expressed his gratitude to DOLE and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the assistance.
“Bago po ako naging benepisyaryo, normal na po kaming namamasada ng pampasadang jeep. Maraming salamat po kay DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino at kay President Bongbong Marcos (Before I became a beneficiary, we were already regularly operating our passenger jeepneys. Thank you very much to DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino and President Bongbong Marcos),” he shared.
This initiative forms part of the government’s efforts under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide income support to workers, ease the impact of rising fuel prices, and help sustain local public transportation services. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
