SOME 10,000 workers in Cagayan de Oro City under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged /Displaced Workers (Tupad) have soon to receive their wages after Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez turned over the check worth P37 million from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-10)

For 2003 budget deliberations, Rodriguez earlier urged the Congress to augment the agency’s budget to P1.5 billion, with P500 million each going to Sustainable Livelihood Programs (SLPs), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Government Internship Program (GIP).

This allows 10,000 beneficiaries from the city to benefit from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program, according to Rodriguez.

Leading the turnover were Rodriguez, DOLE Regional Director Albert Gutib, and Provincial Director Emmanuel Toledo. Also present at the event was Senior Labor and Employment Officer Akisa G. Boriongan.

The P37 million check was turned over to Punong Barangay of Brgy. Nazareth Kap. Jonjon Rodriguez, also witnessed by 2nd District Congressional Office Chief-of-Staff, Atty. Regine Rodriguez.

“The pandemic caused the loss of livelihood for many Kagay-anons, most of them are still trying to recover and require financial assistance from the government,” Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, individuals from various sectors will benefit from the TUPAD program which includes laid-off workers, senior citizens, solo parents, sikad drivers, PWDs, and other vulnerable sectors.

It can be remembered that during the 4th term of Cong. Rufus (2019-2022), was able to secure P50.4 million which was distributed to the displaced workers in the city, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.