The Department of Agriculture Bicol, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) strengthened their partnership to provide employment, skills training, and livelihood opportunities to 311 disadvantaged and displaced workers in the region under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.
The three agencies formalized collaboration with a memorandum of agreement (MOA) inked on Aug. 10 for scaling up the Livelihood Enterprise Project, aimed at combining employment assistance, agricultural skills development, and livelihood support so beneficiaries can gain not only temporary income but also practical skills they can use for longer-term employment or livelihood.
In a phone interview on Wednesday, Lovella Guarin, DA Bicol spokesperson, said the implementation started in phases across the region, depending on the schedule of orientation and deployment in each province.
At least 311 beneficiaries are distributed across the region, with 110 from Camarines Sur, 90 from Sorsogon, 40 from Masbate, 34 from Albay, 20 from Camarines Norte, and 17 from Catanduanes.
The program has a total allocation of PHP12.735 million from DOLE, based on the PHP455 daily wage for 90 days, or PHP40,950 for each beneficiary.
Guarin said the beneficiaries will also gain practical experience in agricultural activities while earning temporary income.
“What is important is that their work is not only intended to provide them with temporary income. At the same time, they are allowed to gain practical experience in various agricultural activities,” she said.
The allocation includes PHP4.504 million for Camarines Sur, PHP3.685 million for Sorsogon, PHP1.638 million for Masbate, PHP1.392 million for Albay, PHP819,000 for Camarines Norte, and PHP696,150 for Catanduanes.
During their employment, beneficiaries will perform various activities depending on the needs of the DA offices, facilities, and research stations where they are assigned.
These include cleaning and maintenance, agricultural activities, farm work, environmental conservation, and other field-related tasks.
Guarin added the approach is designed to ensure that beneficiaries have skills they can use even after their employment.
“Our approach is employment today, skills for the future,” she said.
Under the partnership, DOLE focuses on employment assistance, including beneficiary validation, wage provision, and program monitoring.
DA Bicol provides agricultural technical training and capacity-building in areas such as rice and corn production, mushroom production, tissue culture, animal production, and food processing.
TESDA, meanwhile, provides skills assessment, technical-vocational training, competency development, and certification opportunities.
After the employment period, beneficiaries may undergo TESDA skills training and assessment that could lead to National Certificate II qualifications, subject to passing the required assessment.
Among the certifications covered by the training are Agricultural Crops Production NC II, Organic Agriculture Production NC II, and Poultry Production NC II.
She said beneficiaries may also use the skills and knowledge they acquire to seek employment, establish businesses, or develop their own livelihood activities.
“What we want is for them to take home their wages, new skills, certification if they pass the assessment, and knowledge that they can use as capital for more sustainable livelihoods,” she said. (PNA)
