The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday said it would hire some 5,000 informal sector workers to help clean up the streets of Catanduanes after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

The hiring of workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) was the response of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on the request of Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua.

“Kindly tell Gov. Cua, Secretary Harry (Roque) that I will send the amount to hire at least 5,000 people to clean the streets and the debris of Typhoon Rolly. The money has been downloaded, please tell him, Secretary Harry,” Bello told Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a phone conversation during a Palace press briefing.

According to Roque, Cua said there is a need to hire employees to clean the debris left behind by the typhoon after it ravaged the province on Sunday.

The streets need to be cleared for the delivery of relief goods to be able to enter the province.

TUPAD beneficiaries are given emergency employment and are paid the minimum wage prevailing in their respective areas.

Aside from Catanduanes, Albay province was also devastated by “Rolly”, which is dubbed as this year’s strongest typhoon.

It destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 20 people in the Bicol Region. (PNA)