Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III distributed P16.6 million in assistance to 2,355 Bacolod and Negros Occidental residents on Tuesday, November 9, and said P110 million more will be allocated in next year’s budget.
Bello distributed the funds at rites held at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City, where he also disclosed that he may run for senator in the 2022 polls as a replacement candidate.
He will decide on his Senate bid after he talks to President Rodrigo Duterte, Bello said.
November 15 is the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for replacement candidates.
Asked if he would support the restoration of the Negros Island Region if he wins as senator, Bello said: “I will support the position of Negros, what they want, that is what I will fellow.”
Bello denied that the TUPAD assistance being distributed was being used for campaign purposes, they are part of the government budgetary allocation due the beneficiaries, he said.
Distributed Tuesday were P8542,675 in TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) payouts to 2,355 beneficiaries, P6,800,000 in Kabuhayan assistance for 590 beneficiaries of nine livelihood projects, and P1,260,000 to 54 beneficiaries of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay and Tabang OFW.
The Department of Labor (DOLE) has so far distributed more than P140 million in TUPAD payouts in Negros Occidental.
Bello said the P110 million TUPAD assistance for 2022 will be allocated based on recipients identified by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and the seven congressmen of the province.
The governor and vice governor will have the discretion to allocate P20 million each, while the congressmen will be allocated P10 million each, he said.
Present at the turnover rites at the Negros residences on Tuesday were representatives Gerardo Valmayor (first district), Leo Rafael Cueva (second district), Francisco Benitez (third district), and Greg Gasataya (Bacolod).
Former Rep. Mercedes Alvarez represented her father Rep. Genaro Alvarez (6th District).
More than 200 Bacolodnons received financial assistance from Bello who handed over the TUPAD payouts to recipients at the Forest Park Water Garden Resort in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod, in the presence of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.*