LIVELIHOOD AID. The Department of Labor and Employment celebrates Independence Day in the Zamboanga Peninsula by releasing PHP39.2 million in livelihood and financial assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and other groups on Friday (June 12, 2026). In photo are members of Kasanyangan Seaweed Nursery, Inc., who received PHP15.9 million to implement 10 projects in Zamboanga City. (Photo courtesy of DOLE-9)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment-Zamboanga Peninsula (DOLE-9) celebrated Independence Day on Friday by releasing PHP39.2 million in livelihood and financial assistance for eligible laborers in the region.
In a statement, DOLE-9 Director Albert Gutib said that PHP22 million of the total assistance was funded through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), while the remaining PHP17.2 million was subsidized under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.
A total of 525 beneficiaries were listed under the DILP, including parents/guardians of child laborers, women’s associations, persons with disabilities, vegetable and seaweed farmers, the urban poor, union members, fisherfolk, persons deprived of liberty, exited Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members, and skilled workers.
“Of the 525 DILP beneficiaries, 389 are from this city and the remaining 136 are from Zamboanga Sibugay province,” he said.
Under TUPAD, he said there are 1,764 recipients, including the underemployed, self-employed, marginalized workers, farmers, displaced workers, senior citizens, drivers, fisherfolk, and parents/guardians of profiled child laborers.
Of the 1,764 TUPAD beneficiaries, 778 are from Zamboanga City, while the 986 are from Isabela City, Basilan; Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.
“We also have one-stop shop services, where 21 government agencies participated and shared with our fellow citizens their programs and services,” Gutib said.
Job fairs were also held in this city and in Zamboanga Sibugay province, offering 3,487 vacancies — 1,816 for local employment and 1,671 for overseas jobs.
Gutib said the agency organized the job fairs, distributed livelihood and financial assistance, and provided one-stop shop services for this year’s Independence Day following orders from Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino. (PNA)