More than 18,000 beneficiaries across the Bicol Region have been deployed under DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to assist in Brigada Eskwela activities in over 1,296 public schools, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday.

DOLE-Bicol Regional Director Imelda Gatinao said the initiative highlights the government’s dual commitment to supporting education and providing temporary employment to disadvantaged workers and parents.

“TUPAD is an important component of Brigada Eskwela because it helps prepare schools for the opening of classes while also providing temporary employment to parents and other workers who need income,” Gatinao said in an interview.

The program goes beyond school preparation, serving as a bridge between livelihood and education while strengthening community participation through the spirit of bayanihan.

“While schools are being repaired, cleaned, and prepared, beneficiaries are also allowed to earn and support the daily needs of their families,” she added.

Under the program, beneficiaries undertake school maintenance activities such as classroom cleaning, painting, minor repairs, and improvement of school facilities.

DOLE has so far processed 713 beneficiaries in 42 schools with funding of more than PHP5 million. Currently, 11,683 beneficiaries are engaged in Brigada Eskwela activities in 718 schools. Additional applications covering over 6,202 beneficiaries are still being processed, bringing the projected total to 18,598 workers in more than 1,296 schools regionwide.

DOLE has allocated around PHP97 million for the TUPAD-Brigada Eskwela program in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Each beneficiary will work for 10 days.

The national launching of the TUPAD-Brigada Eskwela component will be held on June 3 in Labo, Camarines Norte.

“We want to promote inclusivity and demonstrate that no one is left behind, even those living in far-flung areas,” Gatinao said, adding that Labo was selected partly because of its geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities.

She said the program demonstrates how government interventions can simultaneously address the needs of the education and labor sectors. (PNA)