More than 25,000 individuals have been given emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged and Displaced Workers Program (TUPAD) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in Calabarzon.

DOLE Calabarzon director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla said the department has allocated over PHP118.5 million for the temporary employment of 25,842 people from the region.

“We have allocated funds for the victims of Typhoon Paeng, under TUPAD, this is an emergency employment assistance program. So, with the amount I said, there are 25,842 beneficiaries who have been greatly affected by STS Paeng,” she said at the Laging Handa briefing on Friday.

Trayvilla also reported that the workers started last Nov. 4 after undergoing orientation on how the project works.

The beneficiaries will be working for 10 days and they will be paid PHP4,350 based on the minimum wage of PHP435 per day.

“Our TUPAD beneficiaries are currently doing debris clearing, and declogging of water-filled canals. They also conduct minor repairs,” she said.

She added that the local government units have also assisted them in profiling the beneficiaries.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that there are 203,571 families consisting of 814,705 individuals in the region that have been affected by the storm.

In Cavite, the affected areas are Kawit, Tanza, and Ternate in Cavite; Calamba City, Mabitac, and Biñan in Laguna; Lemery, Lian, and San Juan in Batangas; San Mateo, Montalban and Cainta in Rizal; and the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province. (PNA)