BUTUANON YOUTH RECEIVE CASH ASSISTANCE UNDER DOLE-TUPAD

Some 380 youth have received cash assistance under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s cash-for-work assistance program, Tulong Hanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD). Select full-time students and students who work part-time from Barangays Banza, Bobon, De Oro, Golden Ribbon, Lemon, Mahay, Mahogany, Maug, Tagabaca, and Tiniwisan gathered at the Brgy. Golden Ribbon covered court on Monday, December 27, to receive cash assistance amounting to PhP3,200.

The national government has allocated PhP1.2 million for the said batch of beneficiaries, and was benefited by 75 youth residents from Brgy. Golden Ribbon; 35 youth residents from each of the Brgys. Banza, Bobon, De Oro, Lemon, Mahogany, and Maug; 36 youth residents from Brgys. Mahay and Tiniwisan; and 34 youth residents from Brgy. Tagabaca. The initiative is spearheaded by former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated president and current Brgy. Golden Ribbon SK chairperson Engr. Wen Kok Lim Chiang II, who, along with SK leaders in other parts of the country, lobbied the Office of the President through Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, DOLE secretary Silvestre Bello III, and USec. Victor Del Rosario for the inclusion of the youth in the list of beneficiaries of the TUPAD program Providing such assistance to the youth is important, Chiang said, since a significant portion of the workforce in the city comprises students who work part-time. “Majority po sa mga kabataan at nagtatrabaho. Kahit sila din po ay naaapketuhan sa pandemiya, sa sakuna, so nagpapasalamat po talaga kami dahil yung allocation for the last quarter sa TUPAD, nabigay po sa mga kabataan natin. (Majority of our youth are working. They are also affected by the pandemic and disasters so we are thankful that the allocation for the last quarter for the TUPAD [program] was given to our youth),” he said.

Among the beneficiaries is the son of Leogina Sacro, a resident of Brgy. Tiniwisan, who is relieved that her son is able to receive an ample amount of money amid the ongoing health crisis. Her son, a 15-year-old student, worked part-time Caraga INFOCUS

as a helper for her relatives. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, her relatives had to lay him off since they also began struggling financially. This, coupled with the death of her husband, who was one of the providers of the family, made their current situation even more challenging. They are now relying solely on her eldest child, who works as a driver for a public utility vehicle. “Kahit papaano po, malaking tulong po ito sa amin, sa aming lahat. Salamat po sa lahat ng nagtulung-tulongan para sa mga naapektuhan sa pandemiya. (This is a big help to us somehow. Thank you to all those who worked together to help those who were affected by the pandemic),” said Sacro.

SK chairpersons of participating barangays have also shared the same sentiment and feel grateful as well that their constituents are being helped by the national government. “We are very thankful that the government gave us a chance to work and earn money to help pay for our daily expenses. We are happy to know that they are taking care of us through this program. We are also having a hard time coping with this pandemic and we’re thankful that we were not overlooked,” said Chrisna Jane Ebale, SK chairperson of Brgy. Maug. While the next scheduled provision of cash assistance is yet to be determined, Chiang has said that the DOLE-Caraga has assured them that this will not be the only time the youth will be given cash assistance under the said program. “Dahil sa limitado lang yung slots natin, hindi kayang mabigyan ang lahat ng 86 barangays sa syudad. Hopefully in the future, mabigyan po natin yung ibang barangays. (With the limited slots, we cannot provide for the 86 barangays in the city. Hopefully in the future, we can also include other barangays as well),” said the youth leader. Chiang has likewise urged his fellow youth to actively take part in rallying for support for youth-led initiatives, reminding them that help will always be given to them if they also persist in seeking it. “Help will always be available to each and everyone. We just need to approach the government especially on the barangay level, ang ating mga Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), kasi nasa kanila po ang inisyatibo na humingi ng budget sa national government. (We just need to approach the government especially on the barangay level [through] our Sangguninang Kabataan (SK) since they can initiate requests for a budget from the national government),” said Chiang. “Aminado po na hindi sufficient ang pondo on the barangay level kaya po we really need to strengthen our ties with the national government kasi may mga programa pong pwede pala natin maexplore, kagaya nitong TUPAD, na pwede din pala makatulong sa mga kabataan. (The funding in the barangay level is admittedly not sufficient so we really need to strengthen our ties with the national government because there are programs we can actually explore, such as the TUPAD, and use it to help the youth),” he added. “Rest assured that marami pang mga programa para sa mga kabataan from the national government. (Rest assured that the national government has a lot of programs for the youth).” (DMNR/PIA-Caraga) December 25-31, 2021 | 11