Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Philippines

Bello releases P2.2-M in wages to locos Norte workers affected by ‘Lawin,’ ‘Ineng’

MANILA, Dec. 3 - Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III released P2,261,000 in total wages to Ilocos Norte’s 715 informal sector workers who were affected by Lawin and Ineng.

The payment took place during the celebration of the province’s Tan-ok Festival last week, about a month after typhoon Lawin wreaked havoc in the northernmost part of Region 1.

“The workers, who are receiving minimum daily wage rate of P280, were engaged for a period of 10 to 15 days in clearing and declogging operations as part of the rebuilding of the affected LGUs. They are from the cities of Laoag and Batac and the municipalities of Bacarra, Badoc, Bangui, Dingras, Marcos, Piddig, Pagudpud and Nueva Era,” DOLE-RO I Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena said.

The wages form part of the assistance provided under the DOLE Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, or TUPAD, which is an emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and unemployed poor, for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed. (DOLE).