DOLE to roll out P1.2B worker aid amid fuel supply threat

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) allocated a P1.2 billion fund to support vulnerable sectors as fuel prices surge and transport operations falter linked to conflict in the Middle East.

This follows the declaration of a state of national energy emergency under Executive Order 110, which allows agencies to mitigate risks to the economy and labor market amid tightening global oil supply and rising domestic fuel costs.

Proposals to align DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program with a service contracting approach similar to transportation sector initiatives are being considered. 

This would allow beneficiaries to receive wages comparable to regional minimum pay in exchange for temporary employment.

The labor department said the fund will be utilized to deepen and refocus important programs, especially for workers in the transportation industry. 

“Hopefully, after Holy Week, we can implement this. We are looking into how the TUPAD program can help so drivers can continue servicing their routes,” DOLE Assistant Secretary Lennard Serrano said in an interview.

Tricycle operators, conductors, and drivers of public utility vehicles are among those being evaluated for inclusion.

“TUPAD is a social protection program of Dole that supports vulnerable and marginalized workers, including those who lost or are about to lose their jobs or livelihood such as during this state of national energy emergency,” Serrano added.

DOLE noted that assistance under TUPAD is temporary, with work durations ranging from 10 to 90 days, depending on program design. 

Officials are determining how many days of employment can be offered to maximize coverage across affected workers.

In a separate statement, DOLE said the funding will also support its Integrated Livelihood Program, both of which are anchored under the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) initiative aimed at stabilizing energy supply and sustaining economic activity.

“These programs are in place to support vulnerable workers, including those who may be displaced as a consequence of the current energy emergency,” the agency said.

The emergency designation, according to the agency, permits coordinated government action to mitigate the effects of disruptions in global supply, particularly those that affect wages and jobs.

In order to preserve mobility, DOLE is collaborating with other organizations and local governments to provide focused initiatives, starting with transportation workers.