In a significant move to support the agricultural sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol have formalized a partnership to expand the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program. The agreement, signed on February 18, 2025, at the DA Regional Office in Pili, Camarines Sur, aims to enhance employment opportunities for 150 individuals from farming and fishing communities across the region.
The initiative, named ‘Harnessing TUPAD Workforce for Sustainable Agriculture Livelihood: DA and DA-DOLE Collaboration Towards Agri-Labor Employment,’ will see beneficiaries engaged in community services such as beautification, cleaning, and landscaping for a period of 90 days. The DOLE has allocated PHP5.46 million to support this effort, covering the salaries of the participants during their training period.
DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel Tornilla emphasized that the program not only provides immediate employment but also focuses on equipping participants with skills for future sustainable livelihoods. Training will include agricultural crop production, livestock and poultry management, and food processing and value addition.
Assistant Regional Director of DOLE Bicol, lawyer Nepomuceno Leaño, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating that it aligns the employment mandates of DOLE with the agricultural development goals of DA. The DA will be responsible for identifying the project areas and selecting the beneficiaries.
Following the signing of the memorandum of agreement, the DOLE team visited the DA-5 compound to assess potential sites for deploying TUPAD workers, furthering the commitment to agricultural growth and community development in Bicol.