BUTUAN CITY – At least 3,948 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged /Displaced Workers or TUPAD of the Department of Labor and Employment have received their compensation for community work. Officials of DOLE 13 Caraga handed over P15.6 million worth of payments to these TUPAD beneficiaries during the celebration of the 125th Independence Day here on Monday, June 12. DOLE 13 Regional Director Atty. Joffrey M. Suyao led Monday’s payout also attended by local officials and other concerned government agencies. In Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, some 1,326 beneficiaries were paid P4,641,000 after their 15-day work under the program, while in the province of Dinagat Islands, 362 parents of profiled child laborers and 332 regular beneficiaries received TUPAD payments in the amount of P1,267,000. In Esperanza town in Agusan del Sur, 163 TUPAD beneficiaries received total payments worth P855,750 while 1,765 beneficiaries in Barangay Luna, Surigao City, collected P8.9 million. TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed, and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not exceeding a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed. During the distribution of TUPAD compensation to beneficiaries, Director Suyao expressed gratitude to the different line agencies of the government and local government units for their support for this year’s Independence Day activities, especially in the TUPAD payouts, livelihood assistance, and the jobs fair. Top officials of DOLE 13 under Director Suyao led the opening of a 125th Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fair here which was participated by 59 employers.