Rep. Revilla pushes for permanent TUPAD program amid rising unemployment

Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla is advocating for the immediate passage of House Bill 2985, which seeks to institutionalize the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.

The TUPAD bill aims to transform the current emergency employment initiative under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) into a permanent program.

This permanent program would offer short-term, wage-based employment opportunities for displaced and disadvantaged workers through community-based projects such as street sweeping, canal declogging, and tree planting.

Revilla highlighted the urgency of the bill, citing the recent increase in the number of unemployed Filipinos, which rose to 2.59 million in July.

He emphasized that the bill provides a crucial safety net, creating dignified and paid work for individuals in need.

As the chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, Revilla stressed the need for immediate, grassroots-level solutions to address the unemployment crisis and connect people to work in their communities.