Over 423K workers receive cash, livelihood grant — DOLE

Over 423,000 disadvantaged workers have so far received cash and livelihood grants from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)'s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

As of 20 May, the DOLE reported that 423,690 disadvantaged workers across the country have benefited from the P2.646 billion worth of government assistance distributed by the Labor department.

According to DOLE data, since 2022, it has employed about 11 million Filipinos under its TUPAD program.

For the temporary wage employment program—TUPAD—405,957 beneficiaries received their wages from the 532 payout sites across the country, amounting to over P2.266 billion.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance providing temporary wage employment from 10 to 90 days to displaced or disadvantaged workers, with wages aligned with the highest prevailing minimum wage in the region.

Meanwhile, livelihood grants totaling over P380 million were also distributed to 17,773 vulnerable and marginalized worker-beneficiaries, including workers’ unions, parents of children who have been removed from child labor, and victims of human rights violations.

Under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, beneficiaries from the disadvantaged sectors are granted assistance that they can use for the start-up, enhancement, or restoration of their lost livelihood.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo

Aside from DILEEP's assistance, DOLE also mounted KADIWA ng Pangulo (KNP) sites nationwide, participated in by 1,178 enterprises and 2,075 sellers who generated P9.46 million in sales.

With 69 KADIWA sites mounted, Eastern Visayas recorded the highest sales, amounting to P1.132 million, followed by Mimaropa with P1.127 million and Western Visayas with P1.065 million.

KADIWA ng Pangulo provides the farming community and the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a stable and steady market where they can sell their products directly to consumers at affordable prices.

In support of the operations of KADIWA, some 1,228 disadvantaged workers were also hired under the TUPAD program to set up, maintain, clean, and disassemble KDN sites, with grant assistance amounting to P4.131 million.

Also, DOLE, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, awarded KADIWA stores amounting to P2.671 million, benefiting seven workers’ associations and cooperatives from Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

Six other organizations from Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, and Western Visayas were also identified to receive grants under the livelihood program.