Davao City releases first pay of Roxas Night Market workers

Close to 500 workers from the Roxas Night Market have received their first salary under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program jointly implemented by the Davao City government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A total of 498 TUPAD beneficiaries are food vendors and masseuse who lost their source of income after the city government closed the Roxas Night Market on March 12, 2020.

The closure of the Roxas Night Market was part of the quarantine measures adopted by the city government to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The affected food vendors and masseuse were immediately enrolled in the government’s TUPAD program to do some community work such as cleaning of public facilities, cleaning/declogging of canals and other community-based maintenance work.

Each beneficiary received a minimum of P396 per day or a total of P4,356 for 11 days of service.

“They each received P4,356 for 11 days of service from March 17 to 31,” said Norman Baloro, the spokesperson of TUPAD.

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 to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work.

Aside from the Roxas Night Market vendors and masseuse, Davao City also enrolled public utility drivers.

They are due to receive their salaries next week, according to Baloro. CIO