TOURISM workers affected by the closure or scaled-down operations of establishments can now avail of financial help through the expanded aid program under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, the Department of Tourism (DoT) announced Monday.

The DoT and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) have issued a joint advisory that widens the coverage of the assistance package to include the following: beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and DoLE’s CAMP program; workers of establishments that implemented flexible or alternative work schemes; and secondary tourism enterprises with local government license.

“This initiative will widen the scope of recipients of this financial assistance program and accommodate those who have already availed of existing programs open to the tourism sector. Hopefully, the program’s take-up rate significantly improves to reach more members of the micro-, small- and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) and more importantly, those belonging to the informal sector,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.

She also urged the establishment owners, associations, and local government units (LGUs) to assist the workers with the documentary requirements for availing the financial aid.

“We continue to assist our LGUs in slowly opening their tourism destinations in order to restore businesses, livelihood and jobs.  Meanwhile, we hope that this program, along with other COVID-related schemes of assistance, will be warmly welcomed by our workers to tide them over this Christmas,” Ms. Puyat said. — MSJ

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