Freelance or self-employed artists and cultural workers whose livelihoods are presently affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 can now receive assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) by participating in a new project together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Called TUPAD #Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (#BKBK) Program, the project aims to provide aid to freelance or self-employed artists and cultural workers who are affected by COVID-19. For those interested, applications are irregardless of fields of specialization as long as their livelihoods are attested by the NCCA as affected by the ongoing enhanced community quarantine.

For registration, individuals are required to submit photos of any government-issued ID as well as personal information to facilitate the remittance of wages.

They are also required to submit photos of their house or place of residence and/or its vicinity to be disinfected/sanitized before and after cleanup. This entails interior and exterior shots of the sanitized and disinfected area with the use of readily available household materials such as soap and/or bleach, which must be submitted next week.

Qualified artists and cultural workers shall receive 10 days tax-free minimum wage for participating in the TUPAD #BKBK Program. Total wages shall also be computed using the set highest minimum daily wage which vary per region.

Deadline for the required images and details for registration, however, is on Apr. 3 at 12 noon—shortly after it was announced on Thursday night.

Qualified artists or cultural workers shall be notified by authorized NCCA personnel upon DOLE’s approval of their registration in the project. Moreover, they shall receive their wages (which will be released in two portions) through known remittance centers.

Header photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash