A party-list lawmaker on Thursday lauded the leadership of the House of Representatives for increasing by P10 billion the 2022 allocation for the Department of Employment’s Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers Program (TUPAD) program
Rep. Jose Singson Jr. of Probinsyano Ako party-list group, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said the move to re-align budgetary allocations is “an apparent acknowledgment of the DOLE’s outstanding achievements in addressing the urgent needs of millions of Filipinos workers who absorbed the adverse economic impact of the 2022 COVID-19 pandemic.”
“It is also a manifestation of full trust and confidence in the leadership of Secretary Bebot Bello who has been doing a highly commendable job at the helm of DOLE,” said Singson.
Singson said “Secretary Bello’s earnest efforts in uplifting the plight of our workers amid the COVID-19 attack cannot escape notice. He responded with sincerity and true concern for the welfare of our workers, especially in the implementation of TUPAD and similar programs.”
Singson also hailed the House leadership under the stewardship of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and the Committee on Appropriations, headed by Rep. Eric Yap of ACT-CIS for their efforts to ensure that workers affected by the pandemic can count.on the government to uplift their situation.
The House will submit on October 27 the proposed 2022 General Appropriations Act that contains amendments to re-align P65.5 billion to more urgent programs under a pandemic setting.
Among the amendments is the additional P10 billion to be allocated for the TUPAD program which is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers.
The amount will be added to the P21.036 billion government proposal for the 2022 implementation of the TUPAD program which is expected to benefit over three million underemployed, seasonal, and displaced workers.