Emergency employment provided under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) has helped Iloilo City sustain its cleanup campaign.

Gabriel Felix Umadhay, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager for Iloilo City, said they target to provide emergency employment to about 6,000 displaced workers this year.

“They are the ones that usually augment the cleanliness efforts of the city throughout the year,” he said in an interview on Friday.

He noted that every time there are disasters and calamities, those employed under TUPAD are the ones helping in the cleanup activities, fast-tracking the clearing operations.

For this year, the first batch of beneficiaries consisted of 900 displaced workers who rendered service during weekdays from Feb. 21 until March 7.

They received their payment of PHP4,800 each during the payout on Monday.

The payout was attended by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who facilitated the release of funding for the project in Iloilo City through the Department of Labor and Employment and Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

“They were deployed in their respective barangays. We deployed them in their respective barangays to clean their surroundings and public places near them like esplanade, plazas, and sidewalks,” Umadhay said, adding that the emergency employment helped beneficiaries provide for their family’s daily needs.

Other beneficiaries are those who temporarily stopped schooling so they could earn and save up money for their school fees.

“Through this program, we help our beneficiaries to jumpstart and go back to their economic activities through Bayanihan. They help the city government and the city also helps them,” he said, expressing hope that they would be able to secure more support from legislators to sustain the program in the city.

Last year, more than 17,317 displaced and disadvantaged Ilonggos availed of the program.

Umadhay said the PESO is focused on providing short- and long-term employment.

Those availing of short-term employment can secure long-term opportunities through the monthly job fair of PESO so they need not rely on government assistance, he added. (PNA)