Thousands of job seekers flock to the job fair organized by the Department of Labor (DoLE) on May 1, 2025.— PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) rolled out over P14.5 million in emergency employment and livelihood assistance to nearly 1,000 disadvantaged workers in the Davao Region this year.

A total of 940 people benefited from the DoLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program as of August, the agency said in a statement on Sunday.

Of the amount, P9.1 million funded small business ventures including small convenience stores, rice retailing and livestock raising. 

About P5.4 million went to wages for 598 cash-for-work beneficiaries, including former recipients of the government’s conditional cash transfer program and persons deprived of liberty under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The initiative provides livelihood grants and temporary jobs through its Tulong Pangkabuhayan Sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) scheme.

“Our partnerships with other government agencies allow us to extend more meaningful and sustainable support to our beneficiaries,” DoLE-11 Regional Director Randolf C. Pensoy said.

“By pooling together our resources and expertise, we are not only providing livelihood assistance but also creating stronger and more resilient communities.”

The program also extended support to workers’ organizations and provided technical advisory services to ensure compliance with labor standards.

The labor department said it will continue to scale up assistance in Davao through inter-agency collaboration for the rest of the year.

Partnerships with agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Commission on Human Rights and the Games and Amusement Board expanded the coverage of aid. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana