BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin Magalong wants the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the city to be meaningful and honest to ensure that it truly serves struggling residents.
“We want its implementation to be different in Baguio, to truly benefit those who are in need and not to serve as a political vehicle or capital. The program must be carried out with integrity, transparency, and genuine concern for beneficiaries,” the mayor said at the Management Committee meeting recently.
The program provides short-term emergency employment to displaced and disadvantaged workers and the city through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) is preparing for its reimplementation this year.
Magalong directed PESO Manager Michelle Agbuya to make sure that the program benefits are optimized and implemented in an honest and meaningful manner starting from the selection of the beneficiaries down to the discharge of their tasks.
Beneficiaries must undergo careful validation to ensure that those who are truly in need such as displaced workers, underemployed individuals, and families facing economic hardship are prioritized.
He underscored that the program should never be used for political gain or favoritism.
The mayor called for strict coordination among the city government through the PESO, Liga ng mga Barangay, schools, and DOLE to prevent duplication of names, ghost beneficiaries or irregularities in payouts.
He also ordered PESO to strengthen monitoring to ensure that the work required under TUPAD is actually rendered and beneficial to the community.
A meaningful implementation would also mean assigning TUPAD workers to projects that create visible and lasting impact, such as environmental clean-ups, drainage declogging, urban gardening, and support for city beautification efforts.
“It’s not just about giving temporary work. It’s about restoring dignity and giving our people a sense of purpose while improving our communities,” he said.
Agbuya said the city had a total of 653 TUPAD beneficiaries from 77 barangays last year. (By Aileen P. Refuerzo)
