At least 44 Badjaos will directly benefit from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Worker (TUPAD) Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which is supported by the local government unit (LGU) of Surigao City.

On Thursday, the Badjaos began their 20-day skills training in carpentry and masonry after receiving a one-day TUPAD orientation facilitated by DOLE-Surigao del Norte and the Surigao City LGU.

“The initiative, under the administration of Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II and the DOLE, will ensure that the beneficiaries have a permanent source of income through the skills they will acquire from the training,” the Surigao City Information Office (CIO) said in a statement.

After the training, the beneficiaries will work for 15 days at the ongoing Huy-anan nan Badjao Project (Home for the Badjao Project) in Sitio Panubigon, Barangay Sabang.

“Under the TUPAD program, the 44 Badjaos will receive PHP385 daily wage or a total of PHP5,775 after 15 days of work,” the Surigao CIO said.

Dahila Araman, chief of the Sama-Badjao in Surigao City, acknowledged the help the city government and DOLE gave them through the TUPAD program.

“After the training, our members will become skilled carpenters and masons, which they could utilize when applying for work to sustain the needs of their families,” Araman said in a phone interview. (PNA)