ILOILO City — Nearly 1,000 additional public transport workers in Iloilo City are set to receive temporary employment and wage assistance.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas expanded its TUPAD: Tuloy Pasada Program to 21 more transport routes, significantly widening government support for drivers and passenger assistants grappling with rising fuel costs and economic pressures.
DOLE Region 6 assistant regional director Melisa Navarra said the expansion marks the second phase of the program, which was initially implemented along the Tagbak-Buntatala-JM Basa Street route and benefited 115 drivers and passenger assistant officers.
“We are excited to announce the second phase, which is expected to cover 21 more routes across Iloilo City. Following an orientation, we estimate around 959 beneficiaries will participate in this expansion,” Navarra said.
To support the expanded program, DOLE has earmarked more than P10.76 million for workers’ wages.
Under the initiative, beneficiaries will be employed for 20 days and work six hours daily while receiving the prevailing minimum wage of P550 per day.
The program is designed to provide immediate income support while helping sustain the livelihood of public transport workers affected by increasing operational costs.
Navarra said measures are in place to ensure proper implementation of the program, including the deployment of TUPAD coordinators to monitor compliance with work requirements.
“It is crucial that we maintain transparency and effectiveness throughout this process,” Navarra explained.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has validated the eligibility of beneficiaries to ensure that only qualified transport operators and their assistants will receive assistance.
Navarra stressed that transport workers who have already benefited from the government’s service contracting scheme are not qualified for the TUPAD assistance, a move intended to ensure a fair distribution of available resources.
Orientation sessions and submission of documentary requirements are currently ongoing. Program implementation is expected to begin once all requirements have been completed, with support from the LTFRB.
The expansion comes as many transport workers continue to face financial difficulties brought about by high fuel prices and broader economic challenges.
By extending the Tuloy Pasada Program to more routes, DOLE-6 aims to provide immediate relief to affected workers while helping strengthen the stability and resilience of Iloilo City’s public transport sector./PN
