Butuanon youth receive cash assistance under DOLE-TUPAD
BUTUAN CITY -- Some 380 youth have received cash assistance under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)'s cash-for-work assistance program, Tulong Hanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
The national government has allocated PhP1.2 million for the said batch of beneficiaries, and was benefited by 75 youth residents from Brgy. Golden Ribbon; 35 youth residents from each of the Brgys. Banza, Bobon, De Oro, Lemon, Mahogany, and Maug; 36 youth residents from Brgys. Mahay and Tiniwisan; and 34 youth residents from Brgy. Tagabaca.
The initiative is spearheaded by former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated president and current Brgy. Golden Ribbon SK chairperson Engr. Wen Kok Lim Chiang II, who, along with SK leaders in other parts of the country, lobbied the Office of the President through Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, DOLE secretary Silvestre Bello III, and USec. Victor Del Rosario for the inclusion of the youth in the list of beneficiaries of the TUPAD program
Providing such assistance to the youth is important, Chiang said, since a significant portion of the workforce in the city comprises students who work part-time.
"Majority po sa mga kabataan at nagtatrabaho. Kahit sila din po ay naaapketuhan sa pandemiya, sa sakuna, so nagpapasalamat po talaga kami dahil yung allocation for the last quarter sa TUPAD, nabigay po sa mga kabataan natin. (Majority of our youth are working. They are also affected by the pandemic and disasters so we are thankful that the allocation for the last quarter for the TUPAD [program] was given to our youth)," he said.
Among the beneficiaries is the son of Leogina Sacro, a resident of Brgy.
Tiniwisan, who is relieved that her son is able to receive an ample amount of
money amid the ongoing health crisis. Her son, a 15-year-old student, worked
part-time as a helper for her relatives. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, her
relatives had to lay him off since they also began struggling financially.
This, coupled with the death of her husband, who was one of the providers of
the family, made their current situation even more challenging. They are now
relying solely on her eldest child, who works as a driver for a public utility
vehicle.
"Kahit papaano po, malaking tulong po ito sa amin, sa aming lahat. Salamat
po sa lahat ng nagtulung-tulongan para sa mga naapektuhan sa pandemiya. (This
is a big help to us somehow. Thank you to all those who worked together to
help those who were affected by the pandemic)," said Sacro.
SK chairpersons of participating barangays have also shared the same sentiment
and feel grateful as well that their constituents are being helped by the
national government.
"We are very thankful that the government gave us a chance to work and
earn money to help pay for our daily expenses. We are happy to know that they
are taking care of us through this program. We are also having a hard time
coping with this pandemic and we're thankful that we were not
overlooked," said Chrisna Jane Ebale, SK chairperson of Brgy. Maug.
While the next scheduled provision of cash assistance is yet to be determined,
Chiang has said that the DOLE-Caraga has assured them that this will not be the
only time the youth will be given cash assistance under the said program.
"Dahil sa limitado lang yung slots natin, hindi kayang mabigyan ang lahat
ng 86 barangays sa syudad. Hopefully in the future, mabigyan po natin yung
ibang barangays. (With the limited slots, we cannot provide for the 86
barangays in the city. Hopefully in the future, we can also include other
barangays as well)," said the youth leader.
"Help will always be available to each and everyone. We just need to approach the government especially on the barangay level, ang ating mga Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), kasi nasa kanila po ang inisyatibo na humingi ng budget sa national government. (We just need to approach the government especially on the barangay level [through] our Sangguninang Kabataan (SK) since they can initiate requests for a budget from the national government)," said Chiang.
"Aminado po na hindi sufficient ang pondo on the barangay level kaya po we really need to strengthen our ties with the national government kasi may mga programa pong pwede pala natin maexplore, kagaya nitong TUPAD, na pwede din pala makatulong sa mga kabataan. (The funding in the barangay level is admittedly not sufficient so we really need to strengthen our ties with the national government because there are programs we can actually explore, such as the TUPAD, and use it to help the youth)," he added.
"Rest assured that marami pang mga programa para sa mga kabataan from the national government. (Rest assured that the national government has a lot of programs for the youth)." (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
