The government is seeking P11.03 billion for the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program in 2027, with 672,776 disadvantaged and displaced workers targeted to receive temporary employment and income support nationwide.

The proposed funding and beneficiary target are also reflected in recent reporting on the 2027 labor budget. 

TUPAD provides short-term, community-based employment to workers whose regular sources of income have been disrupted, including those affected by disasters and other economic difficulties.

Under the proposed 2027 program, qualified long-term beneficiaries may be given a longer work period, increasing from 20 days to 45 days.

Funding support for personal protective equipment will also increase from P350 to P400 per beneficiary, according to the Department of Budget and Management.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his budget message, said emergency and community-based employment programs are intended to help Filipino families cope with economic disruptions, disasters and other unforeseen challenges while providing a source of income.

Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon, meanwhile, said TUPAD should serve not only as temporary assistance but also as a pathway toward more stable employment or livelihood.

“Hindi dapat matapos ang tulong kapag natapos ang TUPAD,” De Leon said.

He said beneficiaries should also be connected to livelihood programs, internships, skills training and employment services that could help them transition to more sustainable sources of income.

DOLE has also been strengthening TUPAD by linking beneficiaries to skills development, employment facilitation and livelihood assistance. In the first half of 2026, DOLE reported that more than 734,000 workers received temporary employment through the program. 

De Leon said the broader goal is for temporary work to serve as a bridge to the beneficiaries’ next employment or livelihood opportunity.

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