DOLE: Over 500k workers get P5,000 cash aid

Published May 01, 2020 03:45 PM By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, GMA News

More than half a million workers affected by the coronavirus lockdown have received a one-time P5,000 cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the agency said Friday.

Data presented at a technical working group meeting of the House of Representatives' Defeat COVID-19 Committee showed DOLE has distributed more than P2.6 billion to 522,855 beneficiaries under its COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), as of 5 p.m. of April 30.

Meanwhile, 313,700 informal sector workers have received a total of more than P993 million under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Displaced/Underprivileged Workers (TUPAD) disinfection/sanitation project, according to the data.

CAMP has P3.2 billion and TUPAD has P1.1 billion in allocated funds, according to the data. CAMP is for workers in private establishments, while TUPAD is a temporary employment program for underemployed, self-employed, and displaced marginalized workers affected by COVID-19 quarantine measures.

CAMP now has nearly 650,000 target beneficiaries after the department added another 300,000 to the original number, realigning P1.5 billion of its 2020 budget for the purpose. TUPAD, on the other hand, has almost 280,000 target beneficiaries.

The DOLE indicated in its presentation that there are limited TUPAD funds to cover all informal sector workers affected by the Luzon enhanced community quarantine.

In its assistance program for overseas Filipino workers, the DOLE said it has distributed P183.04 million to 17,600 OFWs on-site and P99.18 million to 9,918 repatriated OFWs as of April 27.

DOLE said it has 150,000 OFWs targeted to receive aid under the P1.5-billion program.

The department likewise indicated it has limited funds to cover all affected OFWs.—AOL, GMA News
 

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