Over 1 million workers receive COVID-19 cash aid —DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday said more than one million workers have received cash subsidy under its social amelioration programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, DOLE said the assistance reached 1,059,387 workers and paid out around P4.44 billion from its regular budget and a separate P1.05 billion from emergency fund.

The department said it is in the process of wrapping up two of its programs —COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged (TUPAD)/Displaced Workers, Barangay Ko Bahay Ko.

The assistance to OFWs under the AKAP program, is nearly completed with 74 percent of the target beneficiaries already qualified for the release of up to P10,000 aid.

Under AKAP program, at least 103,467 OFWs were listed as beneficiaries.

“About P1.05 billion have been disbursed of the P1.5 billion special fund released for the program for an estimated 150,000 OFWs,” DOLE said.

AKAP beneficiaries were displaced workers onsite and those repatriated or stranded in the country due to the community quarantine, according to DOLE.

“The department would need additional P2 billion in emergency funds to be able to service a significant portion of the 368,703 OFWs who had sought the cash aid as of May 5,” DOLE said.

A total of 618,722 formal sector workers from 31,972 micro, small and medium enterprises received the P5,000 cash assistance under CAMP.

An additional 35,723 workers are expected to benefit from the cash aid as the CAMP program wraps up its operations this week, DOLE noted.

“The program was rolled out on March 23, and acceptance of requests for assistance by establishments was terminated on April 15 with the receipt of more than 1.6 million applications,” DOLE said.

Meanwhile, under TUPAD program, DOLE said 337,198 workers in the informal sector were hired in a 10-day emergency employment and received minimum wage prevailing in their respective areas.

“The emergency employment involved the disinfection and sanitation of the beneficiaries’ dwellings and immediate vicinity to conform with the physical distancing protocol to prevent the spread of the virus,” DOLE said. —LDF, GMA News