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Bong Go Proposes Rural Employment Assistance Program

by DitoSaPilipinas.com on Jul 08, 2025 | 10:07 AM
Edited: Jul 10, 2025 | 10:07 PM

Senator Bong Go has introduced the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) bill in the Senate, designed to institutionalize TUPAD and bring sustainable job opportunities to the countryside. The proposal–filed in early July 2025–aims to provide formal, temporary employment for rural residents, responding to the widening gap in economic opportunities between urban centers and provincial areas.

Under the REAP bill, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will oversee short-term employment ranging from 10 to 90 days yearly for qualified workers in underserved rural communities. The initiative empowers local government units (LGUs) to identify labor needs and manage community-based projects, addressing unemployment and rural poverty simultaneously.

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Institutionalizing TUPAD for Rural Development

The key objective of the REAP bill is to institutionalize TUPAD, transforming it from an ad hoc emergency employment program into a permanent legal framework. By anchoring REAP in legislation, Senator Go intends to ensure stable funding, consistent project implementation, and expanded reach across all provinces.

“There is a decline in the promotion of inclusive growth due to concentrated development in cities leaving rural regions behind. Providing jobs in the countryside promotes equitable growth and reduces the urban-rural development gap,” Go emphasized in a statement.

Targeting Unemployment and Rural Livelihood

REAP is designed for displaced, underemployed, and poor rural workers, tapping into local labor needs such as farm support, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental protection. Beneficiaries can secure up to 90 days of work annually, with wages coordinated by DOLE and LGUs.

Go added, “This situation underscores the urgency of bringing livelihood programs, agricultural support, and rural enterprise development to these areas to curb migration to urban centers, promote inclusive growth, and ensure that rural populations are not left behind in the country’s economic recovery efforts.”

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By institutionalizing REAP, the measure supports broader rural development strategies, complementing other initiatives led by the Department of Agriculture and local agencies aimed at revitalizing local economies. It seeks to curb rural-to-urban migration by providing meaningful work and livelihood assistance closer to home.

Should it be signed into law, REAP would not only secure TUPAD's future but also integrate additional social services like livelihood training and health benefits. The bill awaits committee deliberations in the Senate, where it is expected to receive strong backing from lawmakers across party lines.

With REAP, Senator Go's vision extends beyond emergency relief—advocating for long-lasting change in rural labor policy and rural empowerment in the country's development agenda.


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