CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — As part of its 2025 emergency employment interventions, about 194,000 individuals in Central Luzon received a total of ₱1.3 billion in aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.
Of the total beneficiaries, a total of 29,963 were workers and residents directly affected by tropical cyclones Tino and Uwan.
DOLE Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio reported that the agency released ₱187.6 million in November alone to sustain emergency employment interventions in disaster-stricken areas.
“During Tropical Cyclone Tino, DOLE provided ₱51 million in wages to 8,227 beneficiaries in Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bataan,” Panlilio stressed.
Meanwhile, assistance for communities recovering from Tropical Cyclone Uwan amounted to ₱136 million, benefitting 21,736 individuals in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac.
In Aurora, one of the hardest-hit provinces, DOLE distributed ₱33 million to 5,463 beneficiaries who were engaged in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation activities.
And lastly in Bulacan, where several coastal and low-lying areas experienced flooding, 5,279 residents received emergency employment assistance amounting to more than ₱32 million.
Under the TUPAD program, beneficiaries were employed in various community-based rehabilitation projects, including the construction of temporary bamboo bridges and access roads, repair of evacuation shelters, clearing of canals, and other activities aimed at accelerating recovery efforts and ensuring community safety.
