By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the launch of seven flagship initiatives of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) aimed at expanding employment and livelihood opportunities for disadvantaged Filipinos.
During a ceremony at Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Marcos unveiled seven new initiatives under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program.
These are SkillPass, Tropa Negosyo Trabaho, Sagip-Trabaho, KaHANAP, Match Fund LGU, Tulong-Aral, and Trabahong-Dagat.
He said the initiatives seek to expand the TUPAD Program beyond temporary employment by providing beneficiaries with pathways to sustainable livelihoods, skills development, entrepreneurship, and long-term employment.
One of the key innovations, SkillPass, enables beneficiaries to document their work experience and skills to improve their access to employment, livelihood, and further training opportunities.
Qualified beneficiaries may also undergo skills assessment and certification through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Tropa Negosyo Trabaho, also known as Puhunan Ko, helps groups of at least five beneficiaries establish microenterprises through capital assistance ranging from PHP50,000 to PHP500,000, along with business training, mentoring, and market support.
To help businesses retain workers and prevent job losses, Sagip-Trabaho provides wage subsidies for up to 90 days to qualified micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by mandated wage increases.
KaHANAP connects job-ready TUPAD beneficiaries and other qualified workers with MSMEs through up to 90 days of supervised workplace experience, allowing participants to demonstrate their skills and potentially secure regular employment.
Match Fund LGU promotes collaboration between DOLE and local government units (LGUs) by pooling national and local resources to expand temporary employment opportunities.
The initiative supports improvements in public services, environmental protection, and government digitalization, particularly in fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-income-class municipalities.
Under Tulong-Aral, qualified education graduates and academic mentors will be engaged through TUPAD to help Grades 1 to 3 learners improve their reading, writing, and mathematics skills.
Participating mentors will undergo training before assisting learners in public schools or authorized learning venues.
Trabahong-Dagat provides employment, skills training, and enterprise development opportunities for fisherfolk, coastal youth, and other qualified workers, particularly during closed fishing seasons.
The initiative covers maritime and fishing-related services, aquaculture and fisheries production, and small-business development under the blue economy.
From July 2022 to August 2026, TUPAD provided emergency employment assistance to 14.04 million beneficiaries. (PNA)
