DOLE REINFORCES TUPAD FOR PANSIPIT RIVER CLEANUP, COMMUNITY-BASED LIVELIHOOD MEASURES IN BATANGAS

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) IV-A, through its Batangas Provincial Office, continues to implement the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program in partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Lemery and Taal to provide temporary employment while supporting an effort to create a community-based Pansipit River cleanup activity.

In Lemery, 250 underemployed beneficiaries are engaged in the program from September 11 to October 15, 2026, under the coordination of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).

TUPAD beneficiaries in Lemery, Batangas work hand in hand in cleaning the Pansipit River. (Photo by A. Magpantay/DOLE BPO)

The beneficiaries are tasked with cleaning and clearing the banks of the Pansipit River, including the removal of water lilies that contribute to the obstruction of waterways.

According to Ms. Maria Simonette Rosales, PESO Manager of Lemery, Batangas, the collected water lilies will be dried and processed into handicrafts, including bags and other potential products, providing opportunities for additional livelihood activities among community members.

“Mayroon pong binubuong progama o activities ang PESO kung saan ito po ay livelihood program na iyon pong nakuha natin dito sa Pansipit River na water lily ay siya pong aming magiging materials… raw materials para po sa gagawin nating Livelihod Program kung saan gagawa tayo ng mga bags, placemats, tsinelas, na hindi lamang po magtatapos sila sa TUPAD na paglilinis kundi meron pa po sila uling pangalawa na pagkakakitaan o dagdag hanapbuhay para sa ating mga kababayan dito sa bayan ng Lemery,” Rosales shared.

Waterlilies from the river will be used by the beneficiaries to create bags, placemats, and other items which will serve as another source of income for the beneficiaries. (Photo by A. Magpantay/DOLE BPO)

Mr. Rey Magsumbol, a resident of Sinisian West, Lemery, Batangas, shared that the TUPAD program enables him to have a source of income momentarily and, at the same time, help the environment. 

“Ang tupad po para po sa akin ay napakalaking bagay po, dahil siyempre malaking katulungan po iyan sa amin. Kagaya po namin, pa-sideline sideline lang po, dahil sa tupad kami po ay medyo makakaraos.  Maraming maraming salamat nga po pala sa DOLE at kaming mga tao ay tinulungan nila,” Mr. Magsumbol said.

TUPAD beneficiaries themselves recognized the importance of cleaning the river itself in order to mitigate flooding in their barangays.

“Napakalaking bagay po ma’am na makapaglinis ng ganito, una nakakatulong po sa aming barangay, pangalawa po nawawala po yung mga maruruming basura, malaking bagay po ma’am sa amin napakalaking bagay po,” Ms. Chona.

Meanwhile, in Taal, 200 beneficiaries are participating in the 31-day TUPAD implementation from September 11 to October 15, 2026, with underemployed workers and senior citizens among those engaged in the program.

In Taal, Batangas, beneficiaries in Barangay Butong are cleaning up the riverbanks which used to be filled with garbage and waterlilies. (Photo by A. Magpantay/DOLE BPO)

Ms. Myravelle Pagkaliwagan of Barangay Butong, Taal, Batangas narrated that the TUPAD program transformed their riverbanks into walkable pathways.

“Maganda po ma’am kasi po nalinis po talaga siya, pangalawa po dati po kasi hindi ito nadadaanan ngayon po magandang tingnan, malinis tingnan, at maluwag po siyang daanan tapos natatanggal po yung mga basura. Tulong-tulong po kami nung mga kasama ko magtanggal ng basura,” Pagkaliwagan uttered.

The riverbank cleaning activities in both municipalities are intended to help maintain the Pansipit River and support local efforts to lessen the potential impacts of calamities.

Despite the challenging task of cleaning up the river, Ms. Kathleen Suarez, one of the TUPAD beneficiaries from Poblacion 5, Taal, Batangas, shared that the initiative is essential in preserving a safe and sound community.

“Sa tunay po, mahirap pero okay na rin po, Masaya din po dahil kumbaga menos na po sa pangamba sa amin lalo na po kasi kapag nalinis, wala na rin po ‘yong mga ahas na pupuwedeng pumunta sa aming loob ng bahay. Eh ngayon po, ‘pag naglilinis, ay ayos na po. Hindi na masyadong… katulad po noong isang araw, umulan. Hindi naman po ganoong naging baha kasi dire-diretso na po ang agos ng tubig. Wala nang pumipigil na mga basura,” Ms. Suarez remarked.

In a separate monitoring day, DOLE, in partnership with the concerned local government unit representatives, also assured the continuous and effective cleanup activities in San Nicolas and Agoncillo, Batangas.

“Bale ‘yon pong TUPAD dito sa amin ay malaki po ang nagagawang proyekto ngayon dahil po ‘yong ilog po ang ating nililinis. Alam niyo naman po na ‘yong ilog ang nagiging isyu ng lawa, kaya napakaganda po ng proyekto ng TUPAD dito upang makatulong din naman po kami sa mga nakapalibot sa lawa para mapatunayan na ‘yong ilog dito’y umaagos nang maayos,” Mr. Wilbert Trinidad, one of the beneficiaries from San Nicolas, Batangas, shared.

A TUPAD beneficiary in San Nicolas, Batangas removed the fish cages that used to block the waterway. (Photo by K. Peña/DOLE BPO)

In Agoncillo, beneficiaries cleared riverbanks heavily covered with water lilies to help keep the river current unobstructed and reduce the risk of clogging. 

“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa TUPAD at marami hong taong nakinabang. Tulad ho nito, marami ho kaming… marami hong natulungan na trabaho. Iyan, tulad dito, nalinis pa po ang ating Pansipit River,” Mr. John Leonard Daz, a beneficiary from Agoncillo, Batangas, remarked.

In Barangay Bilibinwang, Agoncillo, other TUPAD beneficiaries worked together to clear excess soil from vegetable plots that will soon be planted. The beneficiaries have also established separate vegetable plots in a nearby farm lot, with the produce expected to provide an additional source of livelihood once harvested.

Beneficiaries in Agoncillo, Batangas are working together in creating vegetable plots as part of their community development initiatives. (Photo by J. De Roxas/DOLE BPO)

“Sa implementasyon naman po ng DOLE TUPAD ay kumbaga po ay malaking tulong po ito para sa amin dahil kumbaga dati po ay… ang trabaho po noon talaga ay linis-linis lamang at walis-walis. Ngayon naman po, ang [ginagawa] po namin talaga ay community gardening para po malaking tulong po ito para sa aming mga ka-barangay at sa amin pong kababayan na talagang may maibebenta po kami na murang gulay dito sa aming bayan ng Agoncillo,” Mr. Carlito Enriquez Jr., a TUPAD beneficiary, shared.

Ms. Salvacion Kalalo, Labor and Employment Officer III of DOLE Batangas, conducted the monitoring of the TUPAD implementation in coordination with the respective LGUs.

The initiative reflects the commitment of DOLE IV-A, through its Batangas Provincial Office, to provide employment assistance while supporting environmental management and community-based flood mitigation efforts under the leadership and direction of DOLE Secretary Francis N. Tolentino.#