DOLE Philippines to disburse livelihood assistance to about 11,257 beneficiaries nationwide for Labour Day 2026

Under the programme, individuals may receive livelihood starter kits worth up to PHP50,000, while groups or associations may receive assistance of up to PHP3mn.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be disbursing more than PHP261.5mn in livelihood assistance to beneficiaries in commemoration of Labour Day 2026. The payout aims to help workers build longer-term sources of income beyond temporary relief, and is expected to reach 11,257 beneficiaries nationwide.

In its announcement on Wednesday (28 April), the department said the support will be distributed through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Programme (DILP, alternatively referred to as Kabuhayan), one of its flagship interventions for informal workers, vulnerable sectors, and community-based groups seeking sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Under the programme, individuals may receive livelihood starter kits worth up to PHP50,000, while groups or associations may receive assistance of up to PHP3mn, depending on the approved project, DOLE shared.

One beneficiary of the DILP is The Hinatuan Seaweed Farmers Fishermen Cooperative, one of the 2025 DOLE Kabuhayan Awards winners, which is said to have once relied on unsustainable practices, including illegal mangrove cutting.

"Now, because of seaweed farming, the illegal cutting of mangroves has stopped," the Cooperative said, adding that the community shifted its focus to growing seaweed.

The Cooperative currently provides income opportunities to 107 community members, in efforts to turn what was once considered an unstable and environmentally harmful practice into a steady source of livelihood for local families.

Emergency employment support coming up for more than 110,000 disadvantaged workers

In similar news, more than 110,000 disadvantaged and displaced workers nationwide will receive wages on Labour Day, through DOLE's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) programme, which provides emergency employment to vulnerable sectors.

A total of 111,418 beneficiaries will receive over PHP797mn in wage payouts as part of nationwide Labour Day activities, which aim to provide immediate financial relief to workers and families affected by income disruption.

DOLE added that the list of beneficiaries includes 538 drivers under the recently launched TUPAD Tuloy Pasada programme, which provides short-term employment support to transport workers affected by income loss and operational disruptions brought on by the global energy crisis.

As part of efforts to ease the burden on workers and consumers, DOLE said it is also supporting the nationwide conduct of its Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative in 47 sites, through which workers and consumers can buy affordable food and basic goods directly from producers. To support the activity, hundreds of TUPAD workers will be deployed, with total wages likely to amount to more than PHP1mn.

Further strengthening the inter-agency collaboration and convergence, the Department has also partnered with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to assist 10,000 farmers affected by El Niño in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Zamboanga, and Caraga through emergency jobs and livelihood support. The initiative aims to provide immediate income while helping restore irrigation systems and strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods.

According to DOLE, TUPAD remains its emergency employment programme for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers, providing short-term jobs for 10 to 30 days to help beneficiaries meet urgent daily needs while transitioning toward more stable sources of income.

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