TACLOBAN CITY — The emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is taking a different approach in Biliran, where beneficiaries are helping protect healthy genetic tree stocks and support reforestation efforts.

In partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office in Biliran, DoLE hired 50 members of the Mamanwa indigenous community for 31 days of work under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program in Barangay Caucab, Almeria, Biliran.

The beneficiaries, who belong to the Mamanwa Tribe Association and Caucab Forest Savers Association Inc., were employed for community-based forest management and bamboo planting activities.

They were tasked with maintaining and protecting Individual Plus Trees (IPTs) located within the scenic Tres Marias Mountain Range.

According to DoLE, the designated IPTs serve as superior and exceptionally healthy genetic sources for seeds and cuttings, as well as for future breeding efforts to support local reforestation.

“Protecting this crucial ecological zone directly addresses key local challenges, including limited plantation resources, ongoing environmental threats to tree survival, scarce employment options in upland areas, and the pressing demand for sustainable forest management,” DoLE-8 said in a statement.

Dondon Calinawan, one of the beneficiaries, said the initiative has brought renewed hope to his community.

He said the program not only provided much-needed temporary employment but also gave residents a meaningful opportunity to help protect and nurture the environment they call home.

DoLE said the partnership with DENR bridges social protection and environmental conservation by providing immediate economic assistance while contributing to the long-term protection and sustainability of Biliran’s forests.

The agency said the initiative demonstrates how employment programs can go beyond providing temporary income by engaging communities in activities that benefit both their livelihoods and the environment.