Over 11,000 emergency laborers have been mobilized across flood-affected regions to assist in clearing mud and debris left by recent severe weather, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced.
The deployment—funded with approximately ₱100 million through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program—allocated ₱39.6 million for 1,416 workers in Metro Manila from August 24 to October 2. An additional ₱61 million was designated to deploy 9,778 workers across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Beyond clearing roads and removing debris, the workers are tasked with unclogging drainage systems and waterways to mitigate future flooding risks.
“Depending on community needs, workers are engaged for 10 to 20 days,” said Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino.
“The program provides temporary income to workers whose livelihoods may have been disrupted by severe weather while taking an active role in their communities’ recovery,” he added.
Tolentino affirmed that DOLE will keep coordinating with local government units and partner agencies to mobilize TUPAD workers in disaster-stricken areas as part of ongoing recovery and disaster-response efforts.