Labor dep’t to release P2B under cash-for-work program during lockdown
THE LABOR department will distribute P2 billion in cash-for-work assistance to workers who will be affected by the two-week lockdown in the capital region and other areas while waiting for the Budget department’s decision on its request for another P2 billion for cash aid.
In a news briefing on Wednesday, the Labor department’s Information and Publication Service director, Raul M. Francia, said the initial P2 billion will be sourced from its existing cash-for-work program, which still has a P4 billion ready fund.
Mr. Francia said the Labor department is currently waiting for the list of affected workers from companies that will implement a temporary suspension of operations during the lockdown on Aug. 6 to 20 before it disburses the initial P2 billion.
Beneficiaries will be chosen from the list and assigned temporary work in their communities.
The request for fresh funds was submitted Tuesday, he said.
Based on the request for an additional P2 billion, the distribution will be: P776 million for workers in Metro Manila, P298.5 million in Central Luzon, P179.1 million in CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), P159.2 million in Western Visayas, P39.8 million in Northern Mindanao, and P537.3 million for other areas that may be put under the strictest quarantine level.
Mr. Francia said the P2-billion budget, if approved, will benefit 398,000 workers with each to be given up to about P5,000.
He added that cash assistance will also be allocated for displaced overseas Filipino workers. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago
