173 TUPAD beneficiaries contribute to Dinagat Islands’ town landfill greening efforts
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — At least 173 beneficiaries of the program on Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) recently planted 200 seedlings during a tree planting activity spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment – Province of Dinagat Islands (DOLE-PDI).
It supported the ongoing greening and environmental conservation efforts of San Jose town to promote sustainability around the facility.
Held at the San Jose municipal landfill in Barangay Luna, the activity was undertaken in partnership with the local government of San Jose through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), according to DOLE-PDI.
“MENRO provided the 200 seedlings planted by the TUPAD beneficiaries in designated areas within the landfill site as part of the local efforts to expand green spaces and promote environmental protection,” the provincial office added.
It also shared that the tree-planting activity supported long-term local environmental conservation efforts and contributed to increasing green spaces within the municipality. It provided beneficiaries with an opportunity to participate in a community-based undertaking while engaged under the TUPAD program.
The initiative highlighted the collaboration among DOLE-PDI, LGU San Jose, PESO, MENRO, and TUPAD beneficiaries in implementing activities that promote environmental stewardship and community participation.
Meanwhile, DOLE’s TUPAD is a community-based assistance package that provides emergency employment for displaced workers and underemployed seasonal workers for a minimum period of 10 days but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.
It provides beneficiaries the opportunity to be productive and contribute to community development through projects, including repair, maintenance, and/or improvement of common public facilities and social infrastructure such as schools and health centers, debris clearing, de-clogging of canals, waste segregation and materials recovery, stockpiling, and clearing.
It also includes socioeconomic and community projects including repair, maintenance, and/or rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, bridges, post-harvest facilities, public markets, and common service facilities such as production and display centers, fish ports, while agro-forestry community projects are implemented through tree planting, seedling preparation, and reforestation. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DOLE-PDI)