The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set aside an initial P1.2 billion standby fund to strengthen and sharpen its assistance programs for vulnerable workers as the crisis in the Middle East continues to threaten jobs, livelihoods, and economic stability.
In a statement released Friday, DOLE said the fund will be channeled primarily through its two flagship social protection programs — the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP). These initiatives are intended to support workers at risk of displacement, particularly those who may be affected by the ongoing energy emergency and its ripple effects on the domestic economy.
The labor department said that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, it had already extended emergency employment and livelihood aid to 110,106 vulnerable workers nationwide, with total assistance reaching P753.69 million.
DOLE is also aligning its response with the government’s broader intervention under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), which was activated through Executive Order No. 110 declaring an energy emergency.
Under EO 110, government agencies are directed to address the impact of global energy supply disruptions on the Philippine economy, including possible labor market dislocations. As part of this effort, DOLE said it is working closely with the Department of Transportation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and various local government units to roll out targeted emergency employment and livelihood support.
The first wave of assistance will focus on transport workers, a sector seen as highly vulnerable to fuel-driven disruptions but vital to keeping mobility and economic activity moving. DOLE added that it is also looking at other industries that may require similar support, particularly agriculture and fisheries.
At the same time, the department is coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to identify repatriated overseas Filipino workers who may need immediate intervention. Assistance for returning OFWs may include job matching in their home areas, referral to skills training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and access to livelihood programs.
As part of the National Reintegration Network, DOLE will also join forces with DMW for the “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa” in April, an initiative designed to give repatriated OFWs and their families access to a full menu of reintegration services from government agencies, private sector partners, and local stakeholders.
Beyond emergency aid, DOLE said it is also widening access to employment opportunities through monthly job fairs across the country. Since January, the agency has mounted 144 job fairs, including recruitment activities tailored for senior high school graduates, alternative learning system completers, and displaced construction workers.
The labor department also underscored that all 16 regional tripartite wages and productivity boards have already issued minimum wage adjustments for the 2025–2026 wage round, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure timely wage order reviews. The latest wage order, covering Region V or Bicol, will take effect on April 8.
Moving forward, DOLE said it will convene with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council to craft additional strategies and action plans aimed at cushioning workers and industries from the impact of the energy emergency.
With fresh funding, inter-agency coordination, and a wider safety net in place, DOLE is positioning its response not just as a stopgap measure, but as a broader effort to protect livelihoods as global tensions continue to weigh on the Philippine economy.
