DOLE-Calabarzon allocated P118M for Paeng victims — official

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Calabarzon has allocated P118.5 million for victims of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, its regional director said Friday.

At the public briefing, regional director Atty. Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla said DOLE would also launch its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

Perida-Trayvilla said this will help 25,000 beneficiaries.

“Nag allocate po tayo ng pondo para sa mga naging biktima ng typhoon Paeng. Meron po tayong nilaan na P118,503 million at ikakasa natin yunng ating programa,” Perida-Trayvilla said.

(We allocated funds for victims of Typhoon Paeng. We allocated P118,503 million and we launched our program.)

According to Perida-Trayvilla, 814,705 individuals or 203,571 families were affected in Calabarzon.

She said the TUPAD program was launched on November 4.

“Binigyan po natin sila base sa work program ng 10 days. Ibig sabihin ‘yung 10 days po nila sasahod po ang ating beneficiaries ng P4,350 base po ito sa minimum wage rate ngayon sa Calabarzon at P435 per day,” she said.

(Based on their work program, we will give them P4,350 wage for 10 days based on the minimum wage rate in Calabarzon and P435 per day.)

Asked how it can ensure that beneficiaries are doing their responsibility, Perida-Trayvilla said DOLE hired 122 coordinators.

“Ito po ‘yung lalapitan ng ating mga beneficiaries, ito po ‘yung mga taga DOLE na nag aasikaso ng mag TUPAD works kaya lalapitan lang ng ating mga beneficiaries ang ating mga TUPAD coordinators,” she said.

The damage to agriculture due to Paeng has climbed to P6.1 billion.

Fatalities, meanwhile, stood at 159, of which 127 were confirmed.

Meanwhile, Perida-Trayvilla said that there was a wage increase in Calabarzon in June from a wage of P400 per day to P435 per day.

She said the wage of employees in the region will be further increased to P470 by December.

“By December ho magkakaroon na naman tayo ng second tranche. Dito po ‘yung mga growth area natin ay magkakaroon na po ng sahod ang mga empleyado ng P470 per day,” Perida-Trayvilla said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News