The province, in collaboration with national agencies, has fostered concrete actions aligned with environmental stewardship through TUPAD, Food for Work, and Canopy programs.
The provincial government, through Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, will enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the implementation of Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged (TUPAD) Workers and the provision of equity of at least 20% of the total project cost.
The DOLE in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan is mandated to implement TUPAD to provide temporary wage employment to disadvantaged workers for 10 days to help alleviate their plight.
The 10-day TUPAD activities are as follows: Day 1 of TUPAD will be the orientation; Day 2 will be the preparation of materials; Day 3 will be coastal preparation; Day 5 will be seedling preparation; Day 6–8 will be mangrove planting; and Day 9–10 will be cleaning (coastal cleaning, barangay cleaning, special assignment).
TUPAD workers will receive P435.00 per day, or a total of P4,350.00 for 10 days in cash.
Similarly, the food-for-work program has been conducted for beneficiaries identified based on the following criteria: those belonging to poor families or households, the disadvantaged, members of the disability sector, youth, and physically able senior citizens.
Implemented only this year, the program already had a total of 580 beneficiaries in three (3) areas, including the 100 food-for-work recipients in Eco-Park in Bugallon, Salt Farm in Bolinao with 200, and LGU Sison with 280 beneficiaries who have rendered food-for-work services simultaneously in different barangays in celebration of Women’s Month (awareness of women in terms of environmental issues).
Headed by Project Implementer Pat Orduna, the Eco Park food-for-work beneficiaries worked from March 7–26 (first batch) and from April 1–23 (second batch).
Each received seven (7) family packs for the 14 days worked (one food pack for every two working days).
The successful implementation of the Green Canopy program was part of the province’s strengthening efforts geared towards a sustainable future.
The province has planted about 29,934 trees for 2024, which kicked off in Bolinao on January 10, and some 149,964 in 2023.
The TUPAD, Food for Work, and the Green Canopy are three projects that proved to be instrumental in significantly uplifting lives and in the protection and preservation of the environment.
(Chona C. Bugayong, Orland Llemos/PIMRO)
