31-year old Candy Nase from Malabon City is a loving homemaker to a factory worker. Aside from supporting the education of their three (3) children, Nase and her husband also pays for the maintenance medicines of her parents who are both unemployed and aged.
When the COVID-19 pandemic made a drastic economic downturn, her husband was one of the employees who were dismissed by his employer, affecting their family income. Nase almost considered delaying her children’s education when his husband experienced a job loss but she knew very well the importance of earning a College degree since this will help her children land a decent job in the future.
“Dumating na sa part na gusto ko na ipa-stop sa pag-aaral yung tatlo kong anak dahil sa pandemic kaya lang mas nangibabaw sa akin bilang isang magulang na ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral nila—kasi mas mahalaga ‘yun,” she said.
While her husband is searching for a new employment opportunity, Nase thought of doing the same to help their family bounce back. She sought advice from her neighbors and learned about the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Implemented in partnership with the local government units and offices of congressional representatives, the TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance of the DOLE that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.
Nase availed of the TUPAD program and became one of the 1,225 identified beneficiaries of the City Government of Malabon in partnership with the DOLE-National Capital Region (NCR) through its CAMANAVA Field Office (CFO). Under said program, said beneficiaries were assigned for a community work such as street sweeping and de-clogging of canals for 15 days at P537 per day, which is based on the prevailing minimum wage in Metro Manila. CFO released the TUPAD aid amounting to over 9.5 million in December 2020.
Before her immersion to the community work, Nase and the rest of the beneficiaries were enrolled to a group micro insurance, oriented in the basic Occupational Safety and Health standards and were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes the TUPAD long-sleeved shirts with DOLE logo, facemask, and face shield.
Nase thanked the labor department and the City Government of Malabon for their immediate assistance.
“Malaking bagay sa amin na nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng kahit ilang araw na trabaho para mabigay namin ang mga pangangailangan ng mga anak namin at magulang namin,” she said.
Asked about her message to other homemakers whose husbands were displaced due to the impact of the pandemic, Nase said: “Marami tayong mga pwedeng gawing paraan para makatulong sa pamilya natin kaya huwag tayo mawawalan ng pag-asa. Nandyan ang gobyerno at ang Diyos.”
END / Angelica Fresnoza