THE LABOR department said it will stop processing new applications for its financial assistance program for workers affected by Boracay’s six-month closure amid a shortage of funds and fraud allegations, ahead of the resort island’s limited reopening on Oct. 26.
In Department Advisory No. 3, series of 2018 dated Oct. 10, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said that it will no longer process applications for the Boracay Emergency Employment Program (BEEP) Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) for formal-sector workers affected by the island’s rehabilitation.
“This Department shall cease processing new applications from workers whose names are not included in the database of profiled affected formal-sector workers,” the advisory, which was signed by labor secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, said.
DoLE added, “As the number of BEEP AMP applications exceeded the funds allocated for the program, priority shall be given to those who were profiled and verified.”
In DoLE’s Department Order No. 191 issued in May, the DoLE funded BEEP AMP from the Presidential Contingency Program. It authorized financial support, administrative funds for DoLE Region 6 to monitor and implement the program, and administrative funds for the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).
DoLE Region 6 said on social media Thursday that DoLE can only assist 17,000 beneficiaries but the number being processed has exceeded DoLE’s funding capacity.
“By July 10, a total of 21,286 have been profiled, some 20% higher than the fund allocation. To date however, DoLE has received more than 30,000 applications, almost double the number of workers covered by the fund allocation,” DoLE Region 6 reported.
On the other hand, DoLE Region 6 said that the issuance of DA No. 3 is also in relation to alleged fraudulent activities of workers claiming eligibility as beneficiaries.
“DOLE 6 has recently started a thorough investigation on the alleged fraudulent activities of employers and employees in Boracay who were purportedly defrauding the Department in order to avail of the program’s financial assistance,” it said.
Boracay is set to reopen after the completion of Phase 1 of its rehabilitation. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) announced last week that only 159 establishments have clearance to operate when the island starts receiving visitors again. — Gillian M. Cortez
