Some 650 Dagupeños have received cash aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program while 125 residents from the fourth district of Pangasinan got Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart).

The total payout for wages of the 650 TUPAD is about PHP2.2 million while the total project cost of 125 Nego-Kart amounts to PHP2.5 million.

“Pumunta kami dito sa Dagupan para iparating sa inyo ang ayuda galing sa ating pamahalaan, ito po ay utos ni President Rodrigo Duterte. Ang pondo ay galing din po sa inyo (We went here in Dagupan to bring aid from the national government, this is an order from President Rodrigo Duterte. The funding for these projects came from you),” DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III told the beneficiaries during the program on Friday afternoon.

He also announced that DOLE will give additional 350 slots under TUPAD for the Dagupeños upon the request of Dagupan City Mayor Marc Brian Lim.

Together with Lim and 4th district Rep. Christopher de Venecia, who requested the livelihood assistance, Bello has initially awarded Nego-Kart to 25 ambulant vendors beneficiaries, which they can use to improve their daily source of livelihood.

Nego-Kart is a livelihood assistance project which will help them grow their existing livelihood into sustainable and profitable enterprises.

Also, part of the Caravan of DOLE Programs and Services program at the city plaza was the city government’s presentation of the 159 beneficiaries of DOLE’s Government Internship Program (GIP) comprising young adults who were given the opportunity to work for at least three months, distributed at the different departments at the city hall.

There were also 16 beneficiaries of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay, and Welfare Assistance Program (WAP).

Bello also awarded the Safety Seal Certificates to the Coca-Cola Beverages Phils. Inc. and to the First Ilocandia Cable Television Inc. through their respective representatives

Lim and de Venecia thanked DOLE for the assistance given to the recipients, which they said is a big help especially with the pandemic and the recent flooding caused by high tide, compounded by floodwater caused by weather disturbance. (PNA)