DOLE TUPAD PROGRAM CONTINUES TO REACH FAR-FLUNG AREAS IN TINGLOY, BATANGAS

Known for its white sand beach and green environment, tourism is one, if not the main, source of income of residents from Tingloy, Batangas. However, the recent Habagat and severe weather conditions disrupted their livelihood, affecting their day-to-day needs.

Arriving at the island, various transient houses and homestays line the streets. These houses the thousands of tourists that visit the island each year. However, a different story can be seen nowadays.

Rachelle Flores, a 33-year-old resident of Brgy. San Juan shared how the recent typhoons affected their family.

According to Flores, for years, their family has been depending on their homestay as their main source of income. During peak seasons, they attend to numerous guests, therefore generating more income.

Rachelle Flores, a 33-year-old solo parent from Tingloy, Batangas, shared how their homestay business was affected by the recent typhoons. (Photo by Leomar De Torres/ DOLE-BPO)

Due to recent weather conditions, little to no tourists visit the island, which caused them to temporarily close their homestay.

“Solo parent po ako. Ten  years na… ‘Pag sarado po [ang homestay], wala kung anong maititinda gaya ng mga saging ganon [ay inilalako],” Flores shared.

On the other hand, Merly Villanueva, a 37-year-old resident of Brgy. Papaya depends on handwoven mats to support her three children.

“Ang hanap buhay ko po ay paglalala ng banig. Ibinebenta po namin ito sa halagang isang daang piso. Ito po ang ipinang-babaon sa aking mga bata. Ang akin pong panganay ay Senior High School at ang aking bunso ay tatlong taong gulang ito po ang aking sinusuporta sa aking tatlong bata,” she said.

 Merly Villanueva relies on “paglalala ng banig” or handwoven mats to support her three children . (Photo by Shaina Ariane Masangkay/ DOLE-BPO)

Moreover, Villanueva shared that she is currently the sole provider for her family since her husband is yet to find another job, and finding one on an island is not always easy.

The stories of Rachelle and Merly are among the narratives from the 500 Tingloy residents who were selected as beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for typhoon-affected residents in Batangas.

Regional Director Atty Erwin N. Aquino and DOLE staff arrive at Tingloy Island to provide TUPAD to its beneficiaries. (Photo by Arlene Garcia/ DOLE-BPO)

Through continuous coordination of DOLE and the local government unit of Tingloy, the program was able to reach far-flung areas and help Filipino marginalized workers.

During the TUPAD orientation, Mayor Larry Alvarez expressed gratitude towards the department’s immediate and continuous response to his constituents’ needs.

“Ito’y napakalaking tulong sa isang isla bayan ng Tingloy dahil dito ay laging  kapag habagat season ay talagang halos walang hanapbuhay ang mga tao. Kapag ka ganitong may low pressure area, may habagat…napakalaking tulong dahil meron isang linggo, sampung araw na hindi makapangisda,” Mayor Alvarez said.

500 marginalized workers from Tingloy, Batangas attended their TUPAD orientation. (Photo by Shaina Ariane Masangkay/ DOLE-BPO)

According to Mayor Alvarez, the majority of their residents are fisherfolk and farmers who are heavily affected whenever there are typhoons. Therefore, they are thankful that the TUPAD program has reached their island to provide additional support, especially during typhoon season.

Furthermore, the DOLE Regional Director Atty. Erwin N. Aquino also expressed his gratitude towards the warm welcome of the residents of Tingloy and the unwavering support of their LGU towards the department’s program.

“Pumunta kami dito para matingan kung ano ang pwede nating mabigay o ma-extend. Nagpapasalamat din kami sa patuloy na suporta ng pamunuan ng Tingloy,” RD Aquino said.

RD Aquino also assured the residents that DOLE will lend its hand to help them recover from disasters through its programs.

“Pangunahing tinutulungan natin ang mga munisipalidad na nasa 4th to 6th class at kasama ang Tingloy doon…Sapagkat kung may kalamidad, asahan nyo po na nandito ang DOLE para po kayo ay matulungan para makaahon at makarecover,” he stressed.

After the short program, the beneficiaries, together with the TUPAD coordinators, conducted the orientation and the signing of the contract.

After the 10-day community service, the TUPAD beneficiaries shall receive their salary as compensation for the work rendered.

DOLE Batangas, together with its partnering agencies, still works to reach more marginalized Filipinos, provide programs such as TUPAD, and help them achieve a more sustainable and comfortable life.