DOLE IV-A EXTENDS AID TO 1,000 OIL SPILL-AFFECTED RESIDENTS OF TINGLOY, BATANGAS

For more than two decades, Ms. Everlita Umali of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Tingloy, Batangas, selling fish from their island to the mainland has been their source income. However, her work has to stop since the recent oil spill crisis involving a sunken oil tanker near Oriental Mindoro, an occurrence which greatly affected their day-to-day family income.

“Naku hindi ho makapaglako. Hindi makapaghanapbuhay ay ito ang aming hanapbuhay dahil nga hindi rin mabebenta ang isda…Malaki rin po ang epekto ng oil spill na iyon,” Umali said.

CAPTION: For Ms. Everlita Umali, the oil spill affected their main source of livelihood which is the selling of fish. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

Mr. Dexter Salazar, a fisherman from Barangay Makawayan also shared the same sentiments on how the crisis affected their livelihood.

“Hindi rin po kami makapalaot dahil nangangamba rin po kami na pati ‘yung aming panghanapbuhay na bangka ay makapitan po ng oil pill,” he shared.

To provide aid to oil spill-affected workers including Mr. Calaluan and Ms. Manongsong, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 4A through its Batangas Provincial Office (DOLE BPO), implemented its emergency employment program, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD in Tingloy, Batangas.

Last July 19, each 1,000 oil spill-affected workers from the 15 barangays of Tingloy, Batangas received their salaries under TUPAD.

CAPTION: 1,000 fisherfolks from fifteen barangays in Tingloy, Batangas received their salaries under the TUPAD, July 19. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

In his message, DOLE IV-A Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe shared that the implementation of TUPAD served as the department’s intervention for the affected residents by the sea mishap involving the sunken oil tanker, the MT Princess Empress.

CAPTION: DOLE IV-A Regional Director, Atty. Roy L. Buenafe led the TUPAD Payout for 1,000 fishfolks of Tingloy, Batangas. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

“Gusto po natin na makatulong sa bayan ng Tingloy…1,000 beneficiaries dito sa bayan ng Tingloy. ‘Yan po ang aming dala sa inyo,” Atty. Buenafe uttered.

With utmost joy, the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the department’s intervention in providing emergency employment to them amidst the crisis.

“Maraming maraming salamat po sa tulong pinansyal at malaki pong tulong sa amin,” Ms. Umali remarked.

For Mr. Salazar, emergency employment served as their means of income, especially in this trying time.

CAPTION: Mr. Salazar accepts his TUPAD salary for their ten-day emergency employment which he allocated day-to-day necessities. (Photo by April Rose Magpantay/ DOLE-BPO)

“Malaking tulong po itong nakuha namin dahil unang una po, lalo po ngayon, habagat, malakas po ang dagat, malalaki ang alon. HIndi rin po kami makakakapalaot. Malaking tulong po sa pang-araw araw namin,” Mr. Salazar said.

DOLE coordinated the mentioned TUPAD payout with Mayor Lauro F. Alvarez of the local government unit of Tingloy.