The Philippine Departments of Education and Labor will mobilize beneficiaries of the TUPAD program to assist in school preparations for the 2026 academic year, providing employment and support for school readiness.
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Philippines have announced plans to mobilize 240,000 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in support of Brigada Eskwela 2026. This nationwide initiative, starting June 1 and continuing through the start of classes—and even while classes are ongoing—aims to provide temporary employment opportunities to vulnerable workers while preparing public schools for the upcoming academic year.
Acting DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino stated that the program’s objective is to create over 200,000 jobs nationwide, largely focused on school readiness activities. DepEd noted that DOLE has allocated approximately PHP 2 billion to fund TUPAD activities that support Brigada Eskwela and school preparations for the 2026–2027 school year.
Priority will be given to parents, siblings, guardians, and relatives of enrolled learners who meet the TUPAD eligibility criteria and validation processes. Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the dual purpose of the program: “As they help prepare classrooms for the school opening, they also earn additional income that can be used for allowances, school supplies, and other family needs. This is a program that prepares schools and simultaneously supports our children’s education.”
Eligible beneficiaries will engage in activities such as cleaning classrooms, managing waste, hauling furniture and learning materials, clearing vegetation, landscaping, repainting, and other non-technical campus improvements. The program will focus on schools with significant operational needs, including large and mega schools, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), underserved communities, and disaster-affected locations.
TUPAD workers may be deployed for up to 10 days during Brigada Eskwela and preparatory activities. School heads will coordinate with DOLE to supervise and manage the workers, while DOLE will handle selection, validation, and administration of wages and benefits in line with existing policies.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/989592/deped-dole-to-tap-240-000-tupad-workers-for-brigada-eskwela-2026/story/