The laborers of CENRO Calauag hired through a contract of service with the DENR CALABARZON under the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) engaged in relevant activities for the conservation and protection of forest areas within the CENRO’s jurisdiction.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance of DOLE that provides emergency employment for displaced workers and other vulnerable workers for a minimum of 10 days but not to exceed 90 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

According to DOLE, the program involves funds for payment of the prevailing daily minimum wage in the region where the TUPAD workers are assigned. It also covers the administrative cost for personal protective equipment and group personal accident insurance of the workers hired.

The activities of the hired TUPAD workers under CENRO Calauag are foot patrolling, replanting, staking, and ring weeding within the graduated National Greening Program (NGP) sites and some protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System. Moreover, installation of pole markers, cleanup, and re-staking are undertaken by the laborers in the mangrove areas. Potting, watering, and fencing are also conducted by the TUPAD laborers in the tree nursery of CENRO Calauag.

Hiring laborers through the TUPAD Program is an opportunity to empower the community to engage and appreciate the importance of forests and environment. It is also proof that collaboration between national agencies is possible in prioritizing the initial efforts to revitalize our forests and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. ###