One of the highlights of the Labor Day celebration of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 5 in Legazpi City this May 1, 2025 was the awarding of grant assistance worth P5.3M for the DOLE-DA TUPAD Convergence Project entitled AgriTUPAD: Hanapbuhay at Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura.

There are 150 beneficiaries under this collaborative project who are now working at the eight ( DA Research Outreach Stations located in the six Bicol provinces including the research facilities at the DA Bicol regional office in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.

DOLE Regional Director Imelda Gatinao and Assistant Regional Director Atty Nepomuceno Leaño II awarded the check to Dr. Maria Christina Campita, Chief of the DA Bicol Research Division who represented Regional Executive Director Rodel P. Tornilla.

The amount will cover the salaries of the TUPAD beneficiaries for 1 year. The DOLE also provided insurance coverage for them.

The beneficiaries were also provided with personal protective equipment, -t shirt, boots and hand gloves from DOLE. The DA Bicol will train these beneficiaries on different livelihood to capacitate them and expand their opportunities. (Lovella P. Guarin)