DOLE sets aside ?1.2B to support vulnerable workers amid energy crisis
MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated an initial standby fund of ₱1.2 billion to strengthen assistance programs for vulnerable workers as global tensions in the Middle East continue to impact energy supply and the economy.
In a statement released Friday, DOLE said the fund will primarily support its flagship social protection initiatives—Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP). These programs aim to assist workers at risk of displacement, including those affected by the ongoing energy emergency.
For the first quarter of 2026, DOLE reported that it has already provided emergency employment and livelihood assistance to 110,106 vulnerable workers, with total disbursements reaching ₱753.69 million.
The agency is also implementing the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) under Executive Order No. 110, which formally declared a state of energy emergency. The order empowers government agencies to mitigate risks arising from disruptions in global energy supply and their effects on the domestic economy and labor market.
To carry out UPLIFT, DOLE is coordinating closely with key agencies, including the Departments of Transportation, Social Welfare and Development, and the Interior and Local Government, as well as local government units. Initial interventions are focused on transport workers to ensure continued mobility and economic activity.
The department has also identified other sectors that may require similar support, particularly agriculture and fisheries.
In addition, DOLE is working with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to assist repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Support measures include job matching, skills training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and access to livelihood opportunities.
As part of the National Reintegration Network, DOLE will also collaborate with DMW for the “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa” event in April. The initiative will serve as a one-stop platform offering reintegration services from government agencies, private sector partners, and local stakeholders.
Meanwhile, DOLE continues to expand employment access through nationwide job fairs. Since January, the agency has conducted 144 job fairs catering to various groups, including senior high school graduates, alternative learning system completers, and displaced construction workers.
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, all 16 regional wage boards have issued minimum wage adjustments for the 2025–2026 cycle. The latest wage order, covering Region V (Bicol), is set to take effect on April 8.
DOLE is also set to convene with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council to develop further strategies in response to the ongoing energy emergency.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
