Zamboanga city: The Department of Labor and Employment-Zamboanga Peninsula (DOLE-9) celebrated Independence Day on Friday by releasing PHP39.2 million in livelihood and financial assistance for eligible laborers in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE-9 Director Albert Gutib announced that PHP22 million of the total assistance was funded through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), while the remaining PHP17.2 million was subsidized under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.

A total of 525 beneficiaries were listed under the DILP, including parents and guardians of child laborers, women's associations, persons with disabilities, vegetable and seaweed farmers, the urban poor, union members, fisherfolk, persons deprived of liberty, exited Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members, and skilled workers. Of these beneficiaries, 389 are from Zamboanga City, and the remaining 136 are from Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Under the TUPAD program, there are 1,764 recipients, including the underemployed, self-employed, marginalized workers, farmers, displaced workers, senior citizens, drivers, fisherfolk, and parents and guardians of profiled child laborers. Of these, 778 are from Zamboanga City, while 986 are from Isabela City, Basilan; Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte.

Gutib highlighted that the agency also organized one-stop shop services, with participation from 21 government agencies sharing their programs and services with citizens. Additionally, job fairs were held in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay province, offering 3,487 job vacancies, with 1,816 positions for local employment and 1,671 for overseas jobs.

The series of activities, including the job fairs, distribution of livelihood and financial assistance, and provision of one-stop shop services, were organized following directives from Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino.