MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo will convene a Senate hearing next week to review the implementation of the government’s emergency employment program, following concerns over alleged misuse and limited coverage, particularly for transport workers.

The hearing will focus on the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, including its special component for transport workers under TUPAD Tuloy Pasada. Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, cited complaints that some beneficiaries do not perform the required community work, while others allegedly face unauthorized deductions from their aid.

“Dapat siguruhin ng DOLE at LTFRB na maaayos nila ang guidelines para maiwasan ang pagkalito at aberya, kagaya ng mga naunang insidente sa distribusyon ng subsidiya,” Tulfo said.

Reports also point to “ghost work” schemes, in which beneficiaries supposedly only pose for documentation without completing assigned tasks such as community cleaning or agro-forestry activities.

Tulfo has coordinated with Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. to clarify the program’s guidelines and qualification process. Bitonio said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is working with the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to implement the TUPAD Tuloy Pasada program, which aims to supplement the income of public transport workers affected by the ongoing fuel crisis.

Tulfo raised concerns over the program’s limited reach, noting that only 50,454 public utility vehicle drivers are currently targeted beneficiaries out of an estimated 1.4 million drivers and operators in the LTFRB master list. Bitonio said the beneficiary list is still being validated, and the program remains open to qualified drivers not enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

DOLE has allocated PHP1.2 billion to expand TUPAD and other livelihood programs as part of the government’s response to the national energy emergency. Beyond transport workers, 5,246 farmers and fisherfolk have received PHP120 million under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, while 37,875 others have benefited from TUPAD totaling PHP534 million.

Bitonio added that repatriated overseas Filipino workers may also access TUPAD, with job fairs being conducted nationwide in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers.

Tulfo said the hearing aims to ensure that assistance programs are implemented fairly, efficiently, and reach the intended beneficiaries.