ILOILO City – More than 100 public transport workers in Western Visayas will begin receiving emergency employment and wage support starting today, May 6, as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) launches the pilot implementation of its TUPAD: Tuloy Pasada Program aimed at cushioning the impact of rising fuel costs on the transport sector.
A total of 125 traditional and modern jeepney drivers plying the Buntatala-Tagbak-City Proper route, along with their Passenger Assistance Officers (PAOs), are the first beneficiaries of the initiative, which provides P550 daily wages in exchange for six hours of service.
The program rollout follows an orientation and contract signing conducted on May 1 by DOLE Region 6 in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 at Uswag Gym in Barangay Buntatala, Jaro district.
DOLE-6 assistant director Melisa Navarra explained that the TUPAD: Tuloy Pasada Program is part of an employment intervention designed to assist PUJ drivers affected by the fuel crisis.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries are required to render six hours of transport service daily, either from 6 a.m. to 12 noon or from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., for a period of 15 to 30 days, with the pilot batch set to complete 20 days of work to allow other drivers in the region to also benefit.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader response under Executive Order No. 110, which established the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) framework to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the ongoing energy emergency.
Aside from wages, beneficiaries will receive occupational safety and health orientation, personal protective equipment (PPE), micro-insurance coverage, and access to skills training and employment facilitation services.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid professional driver’s license, and complete the required DOLE orientation prior to deployment.
Workers or their family members who have previously benefited from the regular TUPAD program may still qualify, although assistance is limited to one availment per family per year, except in cases of human-induced emergencies./PN
