Benise Balaoing

MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana, together with Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian and MPTC Chief Regulatory Officer Arrey Perez, leads cleanup operations at Caingin Bridge along Caingin Road, which marks the boundary between Valenzuela City and Meycauayan, Bulacan, on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Volunteers from ride-hailing apps, TUPAD beneficiaries, and other community groups joined the activity as part of the MMDA’s ‘Bayanihan sa Estero’ program, launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help mitigate flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).


Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana, together with Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian and MPTC Chief Regulatory Officer Arrey Perez, leads cleanup operations at Caingin Bridge along Caingin Road, which marks the boundary between Valenzuela City and Meycauayan, Bulacan, on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Volunteers from ride-hailing apps, TUPAD beneficiaries, and other community groups joined the activity as part of the MMDA’s ‘Bayanihan sa Estero’ program, launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help mitigate flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CAINGIN RIVER CLEAN UP

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA &mdash; About a million beneficiaries will be cut from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) if the P6.3 billion decrease in the program&rsquo;s funding in 2026 pushes through.TUPAD is an emergency short-term cash-for-work program run by the Department of Labor and Employment.&nbsp;During Wednesday&rsquo;s deliberation of the Senate Subcommittee on Finance on the proposed 2026 budget of the DOLE and its attached agencies, the department said TUPAD funding under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) was reduced by 36.4% or more than P6.3 billion.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761121875862DOLE budget.jpeg" style="width: 950px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></div>Breakdown of the proposed P44.382 billion budget of DOLE and its attached agencies for 2026. Screenshot from Senate livestream<div> </div>This leaves it with a proposed 2026 budget of more than P11 billion, lower than the P17.3 billion in the 2025 national budget.DOLE noted that TUPAD had 4.2 million beneficiaries in 2024.&ldquo;Mababawasan ng one-third so almost 1 million, more or less. So meron ba itong overall impact to our employment situation?&rdquo; said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Committee on Finance.&nbsp;(It will be cut by around a third, so almost 1 million. Will that impact our employment situation?)<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761122111121TUPAD1.jpeg" style="width: 950px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></div>Committee on Finance Chair Sen.Sherwin Gatchalian estimates the beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) to be reduced by a million given the P6.3 billion decrease in its proposed 2026 budget. Screenshot from Senate livestream<div> </div><div>DOMINO EFFECT OF FUND CUT </div>According to DOLE Assistant Secretary Amuerfina Reyes, there will be a domino effect if funding will be cut, especially during times of calamities and emergencies.&nbsp;&ldquo;Not only in terms of the number, but in terms of the quality of intervention for our people who need us the most in times of emergencies and calamities,&rdquo; Reyes said.&nbsp;She said TUPAD is meant to be a lifeline for citizens whose livelihoods have been disrupted.Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said 50% of the beneficiaries in 2024 were from calamity-stricken areas.Sen. Rodante Marcoleta acknowledged the objectives of TUPAD, but said the Commission on Audit had raised questions on the &quot;the propriety and/or validity of the financial assistance granted to the beneficiaries.&quot;He said COA had flagged excessive payments to 477 beneficiaries, which cost the government around P2.5 million.He added DOLE should &quot;present an impact or effectiveness assessment&quot; of the program.Gatchalian said there should be a science-based approach and an impact study to see the program&rsquo;s effectiveness.Laguesma replied that their study is ongoing.

During Wednesday’s deliberation of the Senate Subcommittee on Finance on the proposed 2026 budget of the DOLE and its attached agencies, the department said TUPAD funding under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) was reduced by 36.4% or more than P6.3 billion.

During Wednesday’s deliberation of the Senate Subcommittee on Finance on the proposed 2026 budget of the DOLE and its attached agencies, the department said TUPAD funding under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) was reduced by 36.4% or more than P6.3 billion.

Proposed funding cut to slash TUPAD beneficiaries by 1 million

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Proposed funding cut to slash TUPAD beneficiaries by 1 million

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 22, 2025 05:18 PM PHT

Read More:

TUPAD

DOLE

Department of Labor and Employment

TUPAD beneficiaries

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