Trami-hit Bicol workers get P30M

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Tuesday said it distributed over P30.83 million in wages from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5 to the citizens of the Bicol Region affected by severe tropical storm Trami (Local name: Kristine) as part of its cash-for-work initiative.

The department aided over 7,000 workers in the region composing the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes, it said in a statement.

According to DoLE Region 5, each beneficiary provided various community services, such as clean-up drives, community-based farming initiatives, planting of disaster-resilient crops, and repacking relief goods.

They received a daily wage of P395, depending on the number of workdays they rendered, it added.

The initiative is under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program, where temporary jobs are provided for workers in 10 to 30 days in community-related tasks, especially during times of disasters and calamities.

Greenpeace Philippines dubbed Trami as the “third-[most] highly devastating weather event to batter the country this year.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana