DAVAO CITY – Around 785 marginalized and displaced workers in first district received Wednesday, December 2, their TUPAD cash assistance at the Office of the First District in Ponciano Street in Davao City.

First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released the assistance to blind masseurs, musicians, and former staffs of hotels, restaurants and bars in the city. 

They received P6,000 aid from their 15-day work through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

Duterte’s office said that they are among the workers affected by the global crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The local musician group Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao Inc. (Samadhi) officer Fely Encinares said that since the quarantine begun due to pandemic, musicians have to stop their engagements and search for other source of income.

The government’s TUPAD program aims to mitigate the impact of the national health emergency. The beneficiaries of the program will be assigned to work for 10 to 15 days before they will receive the cash assistance. 

Duterte’s office said that this TUPAD distribution is just a kick start for this month. Aside from the blind masseurs, musicians, and former hotel, restaurant and bar staffs, over 23,000 marginalized and displaced workers will be provided with the same assistance in the coming weeks.

There will also be around 3,000 beneficiaries who will receive their livelihood assistance this month from the First District Office in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Duterte’s office earlier mentioned that the distribution of either cash and/or food, and livelihood assistance focused on the “poorest of the poor” and workers who are directly affected by the pandemic from the 54 barangays of the first district.