Sen. Panfilo Lacson (Voltaire F. Domingo/Screen grab)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The assistance program for displaced workers, or known as the TUPAD program by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) , is being 鈥渢aken advantage of鈥� by some 2022 election aspirants for their benefit, presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Monday.
Lacson said a number of politicians are requiring some beneficiaries to join the caravans of candidates before they can avail of the assistance package.
鈥淲e received reports na 鈥榶ung TUPAD program ng DOLE, these are being taken advantage of by some politicians,鈥� he said in an interview on ABS CBN 黑料社 Channel.
鈥淲e are getting our feedback from the mayors who are sympathetic, who are supportive, sinasabi nila nagpapaalam ang iba kasi kung hindi sila magko-contribute ng constituents nila kasama ang mga sasakyan e hindi sila mabibigyan ng TUPAD,鈥� he added.
(They are asking for permission because they said if they don鈥檛 deploy some of their constituents, they will not be given assistance.)
Lacson said he encouraged his supporters to just participate in such activities because the program is funded by taxpayers鈥� money.
鈥淪abi ko e sumama na lang kayo kasi pera naman nating lahat 鈥榶an, pera naman ninyo. 鈥榊an sabihin mo sa mga supporters natin diyan sumama na lang sila para makatanggap sila ng TUPAD kung ganon ang laro,鈥� he said.
(I told them that they should participate since that鈥檚 their money. I told mayors to tell their supporters to participate so that they could avail of the TUPAD program.)
鈥淟et them take advantage of these people, of these poor individuals but you know, wala tayong magagawa this is part of the game. So let鈥檚 just shrug our shoulders and observe and let鈥檚 see what happens next,鈥� he added.
(We can鈥檛 do anything about it since it鈥檚 part of the game. Let鈥檚 just shrug our shoulders and observe and let鈥檚 see what happens next.)
The TUPAD program or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers is an assistance program that gives emergency employment to displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be carried out.
Lacson said even other assistance programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development are also being used by some politicians to their advantage.
鈥淚 cannot understand for the life of me why such govt programs will be coursed through some politicians ano, requesting for say permit to hold caravans, or to do caravans in some areas,鈥� he said.