A total of 20 beneficiaries under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program are helping to prepare Travesia Elementary School for the opening of classes as part of this year’s Brigada Eskwela activities.
School Principal Hayde Cadag said the support from TUPAD beneficiaries has greatly enhanced the school’s readiness, particularly as numerous public schools still operate without dedicated janitorial staff.
“Brigada Eskwela is a government program that helps schools prepare for the opening of classes. This is the first time that DOLE has provided us with a number of people to help clean the school,” Cadag said.
She described the deployment of TUPAD workers as a major help, noting that schools typically rely on voluntary participation from parents and community members during Brigada Eskwela.
“Since participation is voluntary, we cannot force everyone to help us. But these people came here for a set period of time and are truly committed to doing the work. They help the school, and at the same time the school helps them because TUPAD provides compensation,” she said.
Cadag expressed hope that the initiative would continue in the coming years, citing its benefits not only for schools but also for families in the community.
She said many parents prioritize earning a living and are unable to regularly volunteer for school activities, making the presence of TUPAD workers even more valuable.
“Due to the program, the school has become cleaner, and we have been given more opportunities to prepare our facilities for the start of classes. We hope this will not be a one-time activity,” she added.
Cadag said the school currently has 39 teachers who are busy preparing classrooms for kindergarten through Grade 6 while enrollment continues.
Among the TUPAD beneficiaries is Pablo Olayta Jr., 50, of Travesia, who has been helping clean school grounds and surrounding areas.
“I am grateful for having been included in the TUPAD program. Thank you to the government,” he said in the vernacular.
Another beneficiary, Analiza Bien of Pam Village, Travesia, said she is grateful to have been selected for the program, where participants are tasked with clearing weeds and maintaining the school’s cleanliness.
She said the income from the program would help support her child’s educational needs.
“Our work helps the students, and the income we earn will be used to buy school supplies,” Bien said.
Meanwhile, Olivia Macabenta, 31, of Purok 3, Travesia, said she and fellow beneficiaries have been engaged in gardening and cleanup activities throughout the school campus since the start of their deployment on June 1.
She said they have cleaned various sections of the school grounds, including gardens and areas surrounding school facilities, and continue to work on other portions of the campus.
Macabenta, a housewife whose husband works as a tricycle driver, said the opportunity provides much-needed additional income for her family.
“The earnings I will receive will be used for our daily needs, my child’s school supplies, and for buying rice and food,” she said.
The TUPAD program is one of DOLE’s flagship emergency employment initiatives, providing short-term work opportunities for disadvantaged workers while supporting community-based projects, such as school maintenance and cleanup activities. (PNA)
