Tungkod Project launched to aid LS maintenance staff
Through extending the LS maintenance staff’s services and skills to the greater public, Tungkod (Tulong sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong) aims to give our community members affected by the pandemic a crutch to lean on.
The Office of Facilities and Sustainability (OFS), in collaboration with the Office of Human Resource Management and Organization Development (OHRMOD), and the Staff Council recently launched the Tungkod Project to the Loyola Schools (LS) community through an online information campaign.
Tungkod aims to help the LS maintenance staff who have been operating on a no-work-no-pay basis as a result of limited on-site activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a database of housekeeping, gardening, electrical, carpentry, plumbing, gardening, and messenger delivery services that the Loyola Schools maintenance staff offers. The project allows the public to contact these workers to conduct renovations, maintenance, and improvements in their homes.
Additionally, they may avail of other products and services that the staff may offer, such as driving, massages, and cooking.
According to OFS Director Elias V. Pan, the maintenance staff has always been available for home services, but the pre-pandemic set-up was more word-of-mouth. The move to launch Tungkod aims to extend the staff’s reach to continue their work and earn.
“Mas kinakailangan kasi ngayong panahon na ito kasi talagang kulang ang kanilang kinikita,” said Pan, “Parang one way of helping them nang hindi lang nagbibigay ng pera. May integridad pa rin sila na ‘Uy, kinita ko ‘yan!’ (It’s more needed during these times because they really aren’t earning enough. It is one way of helping them without just giving them money straight up. They still have their integrity, and they can say, ‘Hey, I earned that!’).
Pan hopes that once things go back to normal and on-site operations have resumed, Tungkod Project will remain in place so that the maintenance staff can continue to earn an extra income and gain self-confidence in their skill sets.
Those interested in availing the LS maintenance staff’s services may visit bit.ly/tungkod for more details.
