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MANILA, Philippines – Approximately one million workers from the informal sectors of the economy will benefit from the government’s emergency employment program as the country falters from the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Labor and Employment said Sunday ( Dole).
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Dis Disadvantaged / Displaced (Tupas) program to help informal sector workers recover from job losses during the shutdown to stop the spread of the virus.
Dole’s modified Tupad called Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko, or Tupad #BKBK, in which beneficiaries were paid the minimum wage in their respective areas for 10 days of disinfection and sanitation work in their homes, and the surrounding areas benefited more of 337,000 workers.
Tupad’s regular program is considered to reach around 962,000 informal sector workers, a large part of whom or more than 540,000 have sought help under the BKBK program, Bello said.
In an administrative order issued May 1, Bello ordered the program to be implemented to help workers assist local government units (LGUs) in delivering essential goods and services such as personal hygiene materials, medicines, and equipment. personal protection for front-line people and the general public.
It also ordered the hiring of workers for 10 days to help pack relief products and other jobs to be determined by the LGU; expand transportation services for front-line workers or establish mobile markets; and sanitation and disinfection of communities, provided that they strictly adhere to physical distancing protocols.
The program will begin this month and run through June in areas under general community quarantine. A budget of at least P4 billion will be required.
Bello said a separate upgraded Tupad was being finalized as a component of the post-COVID-19 recovery package prepared by the labor department. The program involves a three-month employment plan for informal workers who will take advantage of the Balik Probinsya program.
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For more information about COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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