120 TUPAD workers plant coffee, native trees
THE 120 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD ) in Sual town did not simply undertake cleaning of public establishments or streets or removing debris in canals. They did more meaningful short-term work by planting coffee and native trees.
The TUPAD beneficiaries in barangays Pangascasan, Poblacion and Baquien were tapped for a tree-planting project in Sitio Baito, a mountainous area identified as a National Greening Program site.
The Sual local government worked in tandem with the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) -TUPAD project for its greening projects that do not only push for environmental sustainability but also the empowerment of indigenous communities and vulnerable workers.
They planted native tree seedlings of acacia, narra and fire tree. They also planted arabica coffee seedlings that shall soon provide livelihood to women and indigenous peoples (IPs) residing in the upland community.
The beneficiaries of the flagship emergency employment program of DOLE were paid P4,000 for 10-day work period on Feb.1-10, 2023.
“The members of the Samahan ng Kababaihan ng Sitio Baito volunteered to oversee the upkeep of the seedlings, since it will be they who will harvest and benefit from the fruits of these trees,” said DOLE Western Pangasinan Field Office (WPFO) Head Darwin Hombrebueno.
The group, composed of women belonging to the Kankanaey IP, was registered with DOLE as a rural workers association in 2019. DOLE WPFO now prepares the group to receive livelihood intervention on coffee processing, through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.
Meanwhile, Mayor Liseldo Calugay committed to work closer with DOLE for the sustainability of the projects.
Public Employment Service Office Manager Janette Ludivina Andaya and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Angelica Reyes shall continue to oversee the community to ensure the growth of the trees and be a source of livelihood of the people. (Eva Visperas)
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