DOLE: Kristine displaced 251K workers in Calabarzon, Bicol

More than 251,000 workers in Bicol and Calabarzon region were severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said the displaced employees were in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, Albay, Camarines Sur, and Norte.

“Nakatutok ‘yung aming isang programa, ‘yung TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers). Ito po ay isang cash-for-work program, emergency employment na ibinibigay sa displaced workers,” Benavidez said.

(One of our programs for the displaced workers is TUPAD. This is a cash-for-work program that provides emergency employment for them.)

According to Benavidez, over 83,000 workers in Region V (Bicol) benefitted from the TUPAD program.

“Dun namin finocus ang resources para matulungan ang ating mga kababayan na nadisplace o nawalan ng kabuhayan,” he added.

(We focused our resources in the area to help affected employees.)

Apart from TUPAD, the DOLE is likewise granting livelihood assistance of at least P50,000 for affected families who wanted to establish their own businesses. To apply, eligible individuals should be displaced by the typhoon and should submit a project proposal to be reviewed by the Labor Department.

Death toll due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Typhoon Leon has increased to 145, according to the the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Kristine and Leon have affected a total of 7,033,922 people (1,788,630 families) in 17 regions, most of them in Bicol with 2,343,175, followed by Central Luzon with 1,061,766 and Calabarzon with 752,793.

Of the affected population, the NDRRMC said 333,951 people (86,565 families) were staying in evacuation centers while 427,059 persons (91,307 families) were taking shelter in other places.

Kristine (international name: Trami) entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on October 21 and made a landfall over Divilacan, Isabela on October 24. It exited PAR on October 25.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News