MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will source 10,000 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program under the Department of Labor and Employment to help clean waterways and creeks as part of flood mitigation efforts, MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III said Thursday.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino held a meeting with Torre on Thursday afternoon to discuss the partnership, including the provision of personal protective equipment and training for the beneficiaries.
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“Dole is giving MMDA 10,000 Tupad slots to reinforce our manpower in cleaning small waterways. They will be utilized in areas that haven’t been reached by our organic manpower,” Torre told reporters.
He said the beneficiaries will be deployed across Metro Manila, as they have specified creeks and waterways that need to be cleaned.
He also said that while the formal initiative will start on July 17, around 500 beneficiaries can start under the program in the next few days.
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The MMDA will provide transportation for the beneficiaries from their residences to the areas where they are assigned to work. They will receive a minimum daily wage during their contract.
Torre said Tupad beneficiaries will work alongside his agency’s manpower to ensure that the tasks are completed properly.
“We ensure that they will complete their duties. They will be working alongside our personnel because a lack of manpower is a challenge for the MMDA,” he said in Filipino. /mcm
