THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is preparing to convert its flagship Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) program from short-term emergency jobs to sustainable livelihood ventures that can generate lasting income for disadvantaged workers.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the department is developing an enhanced version of Tupad aimed at creating entrepreneurs rather than merely offering short-term employment.
The proposed shift marks a significant change in the direction of the government’s labor assistance efforts, focusing on helping beneficiaries build income-generating ventures that can continue operating long after government support has ended.
Tolentino said the enhanced framework seeks to maximize the skills acquired by workers through government-sponsored training programs and convert those competencies into viable businesses.
Instead of assigning displaced workers to routine community cleanup activities and other short-term projects, the upgraded program will organize beneficiaries according to their technical skills and areas of expertise.
Tolentino said DOLE is working closely with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to align skills training with enterprise development opportunities.
"I have already discussed the initiative with Tesda Director General Jose Francisco 'Kiko' Benitez as part of efforts to develop a more sustainable approach to employment generation," he said.
Under the proposed model, graduates of Tesda training programs with similar competencies will be grouped together and provided with the necessary capital and support to establish collective enterprises.
Tolentino cited coffee barista trainees as an example, saying that instead of being assigned to temporary work, they could receive assistance to establish and operate their own coffee shop.
The concept aims to create community-based businesses that can generate steady income, expand local economic activity, and eventually create jobs for other residents.
Tolentino believes the approach will help bridge the gap between skills training and actual livelihood opportunities, ensuring that government investments in workforce development produce lasting economic returns.
DOLE is finalizing the guidelines, mechanics, and operational framework for the enhanced Tupad program, with an official rollout targeted by July 2026.
Once launched, DOLE regional directors will lead implementation on the ground, identify viable local enterprises, and oversee the transition of beneficiaries from trainees and temporary workers into business owners capable of sustaining their own livelihoods.
