DOLE rolls out P1.3B financial assistance for workers affected by Luzon-wide quarantine

The Department of Labor and Employment announced Tuesday it is rolling out a P1.3-billion financial assistance for 250,000 Filipino workers who stand to temporarily lose their source of income due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the COVID Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) will benefit workers temporarily displaced by the quarantine, while another P180-million emergency employment program under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Displaced/Underprivileged Workers (TUPAD) will be offered to 16,000 informal sector workers.

“The initial allocation for TUPAD will pay for barangay works to disinfect the communities, while the CAMP represents financial assistance to the quarantine displaced workers,” the labor chief said in a statement.

He added they will undertake other similar measures that may be necessary to help mitigate the impact of the current global health emergency.

"There is no denying that COVID-19 has considerably changed the normal lives we have and the regular work we do. In this extraordinary difficult situation under this extraordinary times, our long-enduring partnership and cooperation is more crucial than in any other similar exigencies in the past," he said.

The entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine from Tuesday, March 17, until April 12 as part of the government’s bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Bello also echoed the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for big businesses to give their share to address the financial needs of their workers.

"I particularly make this appeal to the owners and managements of Filipino conglomerates like SM, Ayala, Yuchengco, Aboitiz, Metro Pacific, SMC, Summit, Villar and similar groups of companies who can very well take care of their workers and employees for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine," he said.

Malacañang announced Monday that most work will be suspended as a strict home quarantine will be enforced.

Duterte called on big businesses to release the 13th month pay of their employees ahead of time due to the quarantine.—AOL, GMA News