March 29, 2024

SABANGAN, Mountain Province – Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III led the distribution of over P100 million worth of assistance to more than 5,000 vulnerable workers from various municipalities of Mountain Province under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disavantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program.
Worker-beneficiaries from five towns in the province trooped to Sabangan where the ceremonial payout of cash assistance was held, attended by provincial and town officials.
Paracelis, which has 4,857 beneficiaries received P54,998,500; Natonin, which has 318 beneficiaries, received P1,800,198; and Barlig, which has 258 beneficiaries received P1,460,538.
Bontoc was given P492,507 for its 87 beneficiaries and Tadian received P549,300 for its 97 beneficiaries.
Sabangan received P46,709,991 for its 4,281 beneficiaries.
Tupad is an amelioration program for the informal workers, who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paracelis Mayor Marcos Ayangwa thanked Bello for the assistance extended to his constituents.
He said more than 4,000 workers in the municipality were displaced due to typhoon Rosita, which slammed the northern part of Luzon in October 2018. Paracelis’ banana and corn plantation were wiped out during the typhoon.
He said Paracelis was still reeling from the devastation when Covid-19 pandemic affected the business in the municipality.
“It is a big help for us,” Ayangwa said.
Sabangan Mayor Marcial Lawilao said Mountain Province mayors submitted to Bello Tupad proposals to assist their constituents.
One of the beneficiaries, Jose Lidaco, thanked Bello for extending help to farmers like him.
Carmen Taba-nganay, 81, also a farmer, said she will use the P10,500 she received to buy mo-wer for her rice field.
College student Jimbo Fabregas said he will use the money to pay for his tuition.
Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., said the province was a recipient of P101M for various assistance programs of DOLE. – Press release