The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has proposed an P11.03-billion allocation for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program under its 2027 budget request, targeting support for over 672,000 displaced and vulnerable workers nationwide.
Addressing lawmakers during fiscal plan deliberations, labor officials underscored a strategic shift designed to ensure that TUPAD evolves beyond short-term relief into a springboard for long-term economic stability.
“Hindi lang ito pansamantalang trabaho,” labor representatives emphasized during the budget presentation, highlighting enhanced framework innovations aimed at upskilling, micro-enterprise development, and permanent job placement.
Under the updated initiative, beneficiaries will be integrated into expanded pathways including the SkillPass initiative in partnership with TESDA, group micro-enterprise seed funding through Tropa Negosyo Trabaho, and targeted workplace exposure in private sector firms via KaHanap.
The P11.03-billion proposal forms part of DOLE’s broader P47.057-billion budget request for 2027. While overall agency funding reflects a tighter spending envelope compared to previous fiscal years, the administration maintains that prioritizing structured transition pathways within TUPAD will maximize social protection outcomes per peso spent.
Congressional deliberations on DOLE’s proposed allocation are ongoing as lawmakers review safety net programs ahead of plenary budget debates.