Acting on the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) have launched the TUPAD Tuloy Pasada Program.
This initiative is designed to provide sustainable livelihood support and financial relief to Filipino drivers and transport workers amid global economic shifts.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that the program seeks to cushion the impact of rising costs and international tensions, specifically those stemming from the Middle East, by providing workers with a reliable secondary source of income.
The program is a collaborative effort led by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez. The initial rollout has already begun delivering tangible results:
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Initial Beneficiaries: 134 Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers have already received payments equivalent to the minimum wage for 20 days of service.
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Supplemental Income: These earnings are provided on top of the drivers’ regular daily take-home pay, ensuring a significant boost to their household budgets.
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Key Routes Covered: The first phase of implementation focuses on drivers operating along major corridors, including:
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Anonas/Aurora – Lagro
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Fairview Dahlia – Cubao Arayat
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Fairview Wet Market – Cubao New York
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Lagro – SM North EDSA
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The government is rapidly scaling the initiative beyond the capital. Undersecretary Castro confirmed that the program is already extending its reach to the south:
“Today, 400 beneficiaries from General Luna and Dapa in Surigao are set to receive ten days’ worth of minimum wage for the period spanning March 24 to April 7.”
The launch of TUPAD Tuloy Pasada underscores the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) campaign, which centers on the principle that no Filipino should be left behind during times of economic transition.
“Despite the challenges posed by unrest overseas, the President remains steadfast in his commitment to providing continuous aid to our countrymen,” Castro added.
The DOLE and DOTr are expected to announce further expansions of the program to cover more routes and provinces in the coming months, ensuring that the transport sector remains resilient in the face of global volatility.
