THE chair of the House committee on labor and employment highlighted the necessity of institutionalizing a program that provides aid to displaced workers despite the country’s steady recovery from the pandemic.

“Kailangan pa rin natin ng permanenteng Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program kahit na muling umaarangkada na ang Pilipinas. The reality is that there will always be crises that will result in the loss of work of vulnerable sectors. We need the TUPAD program for such eventualities so that the government is empowered to help those who lose their jobs,” Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles said.

His committee this week agreed to consolidate various bills on the program’s institutionalization.

The TUPAD is a cash-for-work program that provides emergency employment to displaced, underemployed and seasonal workers.

Beneficiaries are employed in various government projects such as cleanups, construction and maintenance, and tree-planting, among others, for a period of 15 to 90 days.

Nograles expressed confidence that the measure would be passed by both houses of Congress.

“Ang TUPAD ay isang maganda at makabuluhang programa na sumasaklolo sa mga kababayan natin sa oras ng kagipitan. Kaya naman naniniwala tayo na tuluyang maisasabatas ito,” said the lawmaker.

The budget for the TUPAD this 2024 is P30 billion.

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Ryan Ponce Pacpaco