The Labor department said its P5 billion worth of aid programs for displaced workers under the Bayanihan II stimulus package will benefit nearly one million displaced workers will benefit under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) financial aid from its Bayanihan II funds.
The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) overall funding under Bayanihan II, formally known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Republic Act 11494) totals P13 billion.
In a briefing Friday, Undersecretary Joji V. Aragon said the aid to displaced workers will be coursed through the department’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) which provides one-time cash assistance to private-sector workers affected by the lockdown.
“Sila ay makakatanggap out of the 13 billion ng limang bilyong piso at ito ay mabibenepisyuhan ang 993,432 workers (They will receive five billion out of the P13 billion, benefiting 993,432 workers),” she said.
Ms. Aragon also said hundreds of thousands more workers from the informal sector will also benefit from Bayanihan II funding via an allocation for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. This represents the DoLE’s 15-day emergency employment program for displaced informal-sector workers, who will be paid the daily minimum wage for the period.
“Ang mabibenepisyuhan naman po ay around 863,867 workers (Those who will benefit are estimated ate around 863,867 workers),” she said.
The department has allocated P2 billion to provide P10,000 worth of one-time assistance to displaced overseas workers.
In a separate briefing Friday, DoLE Financial and Management Service (FMS) Director Warren M. Miclat said beneficiaries identified from Bayanihan I, known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469), but received no aid will be first in line for Bayanihan II funding.
“By Monday, Nov. 1 magrorollout na…Nag-start na ang mga regional offices sa mga preliminary documents (The program will be rolled out by Monday…the regional offices have started preparing preliminary documents),” he said.
DoLE will also distribute P3 billion worth of aid to displaced tourism workers starting next week, Mr. Miclat said. Ms. Aragon estimated the number of beneficiaries at 616,000. — Gillian M. Cortez
