The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has suspended the implementation of its emergency employment program in three Quezon City districts after some beneficiaries reported “illegal” deductions from their pay.
At a virtual briefing last Monday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the suspension would affect Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) implementation in Districts 1, 2, and 5 of Quezon City.
This after some of the TUPAD beneficiaries in the said districts complained some people deducted P5,000 from their P5,370 pay for their 10-day work under the program when they claimed their compensation in designated remittance centers.
Bello said he had already ordered Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione to coordinate with the local government unit (LGU) of Quezon City to investigate the pay envelope deductions.
He suspects some government officials may be involved in the illegal deduction.
Depending on the outcome of the probe, DOLE may file a criminal case against the people behind the deductions.
Bello noted while the irregularities in TUPAD implementation is considered “isolated,” he expressed concern over the said reports since it involves millions worth of public funds.
“I did not get any similar reports in other regions…but it is still alarming considering it involves large funds. That is why I ordered its [TUPAD] suspension. In the second district alone, there are still P59 million [TUPAD funds] which is yet to be distributed,” Bello said.
The labor chief reminded other TUPAD beneficiaries not to allow unscrupulous people to take their hard-earned pay.
“Remember, that is your pay after working for 10 days so nobody—either local government official or an official of the Department of Labor and Employment—have no right to interfere when you claim it,” Bello said.
For this year, DOLE said it has already released P12 billion worth of TUPAD funds, which benefited 3 million displaced workers.