LEGAZPI CITY — Around 500 farmers in Albay, who are part of the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) program, have been provided with additional livelihood assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) initiative.
According to Philippines News Agency, the assistance is part of a broader convergence program between NIA and other national government agencies aimed at enhancing the income of irrigators’ associations (IAs) across six provinces. The farmers, who are members of seven IAs in Albay, will participate in a 10-day work program focused on community tasks such as canal cleaning and maintaining barangay cleanliness, for which they will receive PHP3,950. Baraera also mentioned ongoing coordination with IAs in other provinces to extend similar livelihood support.