Workers already on the verge of hunger two weeks into quarantine, KMU tells gov't

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Wednesday called for the immediate release of financial assistance to the workforce, as it said only 8,641 workers have received P5,000 in cash grants during the past two weeks of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

According to KMU, only 8,641 individuals received the P5,000 cash grants from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the past two weeks, while only 51,293 workers received assistance from the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Displaced/Underprivileged Workers (TUPAD) program.

"We will not be fooled by President Duterte's report to Congress and address to the nation," KMU chairperson Elmer Labog said in an emailed statement.

"Most workers and their families are on the verge of hunger, with children undernourished, the elderly and other vulnerable sectors at higher risk from the disease," he elaborated.

GMA News Online has reached out to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III to comment on the matter, but no response has been received as of this posting.

The DOLE two weeks ago rolled out a P1.3-billion financial assistance program for 250,000 Filpino workers who stand to temporarily lose their source of income due to the ECQ.

Starting 12:00 a.m. on March 17, Luzon was placed on enhanced community quarantine until April 13, 2020, restricting travel within the region in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte also announced that the government set aside P200 billion for low-income households affected by the ECQ.

"The President ranted about corruption, but he himself has not fully reported where the huge funds within his power will be allocated. He only gave general figures and kept saying that aid is underway without much clarity," said Labog.

"We were expecting to hear concrete plans of conducting mass testing in different cities, building laboratories and quarantine facilities, and purchasing massive supplies of appropriate PPEs for doctors and health workers in public hospitals. It's all posturing, we demand actions that can be felt in communities," he added. —KG, GMA News