Streetsweeping will not be part of the alternative work for farmers under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday.
This comes as the agency assured livelihood and work support to Filipino farmers whose farmlands are most susceptible to the effects of “very strong” El Niño in the country.
During the National Security Forum, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa clarified that farmers will not sweep streets under TUPAD.
“’Yung mga magsasaka na hindi makakatanim, puwede silang priority program natin sa TUPAD at ang gagawin nila, hindi sila magwawalis po — magtatrabaho pa rin sa bukid (Farmers who will not be able to plant, may be prioritized under the TUPAD program. They will not be sweeping — they will still work in farms),” he said.
The DA earlier assured alternative livelihoods and TUPAD programs for farmers in areas where extreme drought conditions are expected.
This will be implemented in partnership with the DOLE and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
De Mesa, however, said designated works under TUPAD will still be related to farmers’ skills as local food producers or operators of farm machinery.
“Mag-aayos ng kanilang mga pilapil. Mag-aayos ng kanilang mga makinarya — lahat ng trabaho sa bukid, puwedeng bayaran (They will prepare their rice paddies. Fix their machines — all farm work that can be compensated),” he said.
“Hindi puwedeng mag-walis lang para maging productive ‘yung kanilang gawain at saka ‘yung kanilang bukid (It must not be sweeping only so their works will be productive, as well as their farmlands).”
Meanwhile, De Mesa said they are still working on the arrangements under the TUPAD program.
The particular amount of compensation and the target number of beneficiaries are yet to be finalized.
Besides livelihood support, De Mesa also reiterated other support programs for the agriculture sector, particularly for eligible farmers, fishers and agricultural truckers.
These include fuel subsidies, fertilizer support, cash assistance, as well as distribution of drought-resistant seedlings, solar-powered irrigation systems, support for cloud-seeding operations and indemnification, among others.
Overall, the DA said it has PHP45 billion worth of funds allocated for mitigation response against the looming effects of Super El Niño.
Of the total funding, it has received a PHP6.2 billion budget under Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program.
Allocation for fertilIzer is PHP2.2 billion; fuel aid PHP1 billion for farmers and PHP1 billion for fishers; another PHP1 billion for Presidential Assistance to Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk; and PHP1 billion fuel subsidy for agricultural transport. (PNA)
