The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) often collaborates with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) when it comes to job-related matters. One of the department’s major programs is the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Employment Assistance for Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers),” also known as TUPAD.
TUPAD is a community-based assistance package that provides emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers, including displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Depending on the type of project involved, workers may be employed for a minimum period of 10 days, up to a maximum of 30 days.
Eligibility
Who are eligible to join the TUPAD program? Beneficiaries include:
- Indigent families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
- Informal sector workers who have lost their livelihoods; and
- People who have been affected by natural calamities, armed conflict, and economic crises, including OFWs.
NOTE: Unless a major natural calamity has occurred, only one member per family can join the program.
Requirements
Upon joining the TUPAD Program, participants will be asked to provide the following documents:
- Valid government-issued ID;
- Barangay Clearance or Certificate; and
- Fit to Work Certificate.
NOTE: The “Fit to Work Certificate” is a requirement for participants who are senior citizens (age 60 years old and above). This medical certificate should come from the local health unit, indicating that the person is physically capable of working.
Types of Projects
The TUPAD Program can be implemented through different types of projects, such as:
- Agroforestry Community Projects. Examples of these are seedling preparation, tree-planting, and reforestation.
- Social Community Projects. These include repairing, maintaining, and/or improving public facilities and infrastructure, such as schools and health centers. Workers carry out debris clearing and segregation, de-clogging of canals, materials recovery, and other activities.
- Economic Community Projects. These refer to repairing, maintaining, and/or rehabilitating farm-to-market roads, bridges, post harvest facilities, public markets, fish ports, display centers, and other public service facilities.
Procedure
Before the start of each project, participants will undergo a basic orientation on health and work safety. Each one will also receive a TUPAD ID, along with a T-shirt, hat, and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
After the project, workers’ wages will be coursed through a money remittance service provider or an Accredited Co-Partner (ACP), which includes local government units (LGUs). Representatives from DOLE will be present during the payment of wages.
In addition, after the project, participants may be urged to attend skills training, to be conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or an accredited training institution. This is held in relation to the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).
For more details about the TUPAD Program, please visit the DOLE official website.
In times of natural or human-induced crises, people’s livelihoods are often affected. Fortunately, programs like TUPAD are here to help affected families get back on their feet.
Aside from facilitating temporary employment, the Philippine government also provides other types of assistance. Check out this article to learn how different agencies of the national government have been helping OFWs affected by the Middle East conflict.