Mar 17, 20232 min read

DOLE 4A AUGMENTS TUPAD PROGRAM TO QUALIFIED SELLERS DURING KADIWA NG PANGULO LAUNCH IN BATANGAS

Updated: Mar 28, 2023

APRIL ROSE N. MAGPANTAY LEO III DOLE Batangas Provincial Office / March 17, 2023

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 4A extended its Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Displaced at Disadvantaged (TUPAD) workers program to 22 sellers during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo launching in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas, March 1.

During the launching, DOLE Undersecretary Atty. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. together with other key officials from different government agencies.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the stalls of different sellers during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo launching in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

As the department’s contribution to providing assistance to the participating sellers, qualified beneficiaries shall be a part of the TUPAD.

“May programa po ang Department of Labor and Employment na TUPAD. Ito pong mga partners natin sa Kadiwa ng Pangulo na nagbebenta ng mga gulay, nag-aangkat, sila po ay kinover namin sa TUPAD,” Atty. Benavidez shared.

DOLE Undersecretary Atty. Benavidez with DOLE 4A Regional Director, Atty. Ma. Karina B. Perida-Trayvilla with the beneficiaries of the augmented TUPAD program. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

For 53-year-old Alona Evangelista, one of the sellers in the caravan and an official TUPAD program beneficiary, part of the challenges of running a business entails uncertain profit every day.

“Swerte na sa isang araw na mabentahan…Bilang magulang, kapag mahina ang kita ko, syempre nakakapamroblema rin,” Evangelista narrated.

Alona Evangelista showcased her special mango tapioca, nata de coco, and kaong during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

Hence, the assistance will serve as an additional source of capital for her thriving sweet delicacies business.

“Malaking tulong sa amin kasi…makakagawa kami ng marami para maganda ang kita namin…Napakalaking tulong po at maraming maiintinda…Dagdag puhunan po talaga,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Cecille Cabañas, a vegetable seller for a year now, also expressed her utmost appreciation for the assistance from the department.

Cecille Cabañas, a vegetable vendor, started selling as early as the caravan opened in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas.

(Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

“‘Yung suporta ay para sa pang-araw-araw na kita para yung kikitain naman namin sa Kadiwa outlet o kadiwa on wheels ay hindi na mabawasa. At ’yung kita ay maidagdag na sa puhunan…Para sa DOLE, salamat at may mga ganyang program ngayon para sumuporta sa mga…non-regular worker na ang hanapbuhay ay nagtitinda. Sana tuloy-tuloy ang suporta sa mga less fortunate,” Cabañas shared.

DOLE 4A - Batangas Provincial Office hopes to augment the TUPAD program to more Kadiwa ng Pangulo sellers in the province as its contribution to empowering beneficiaries in need of assistance.