DOLE to roll out cash aid following DBM's release of funds

The Department of Labor and Employment said Friday it would immediately implement the cash assistance to pandemic-hit workers under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

DOLE Undersecretary Joji Aragon said they had received some P13 billion for the implementation of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) programs. 

Of the P13 billion, P6 billion will go to TUPAD or the cash for work program that is expected to benefit 863,867 individuals.

“Ito ho iyong mga naapektuhan sa mga karinderya, iyong mga nagpu-push ng mga kariton, nagtitinda ng taho at lahat ho ng ating mga kababayan nationwide,” Aragon said at the Laging Handa briefing.

Under CAMP, the government will spend P5 billion as financial assistance to 993,432 workers in private establishments whose employment faced or suffered interruption due to the public health crisis.

The remaining P2 billion will be distributed to 200,000 displaced overseas Filipino workers under the AKAP program.

“Siguro, this week or early part of next week ay rolling na po ito, meaning, tuluy-tuloy na,” Aragon said.

Bayanihan 2 provides a COVID-19 relief package worth P165.5 billion.

As of October 29, the Department of Budget and Management said it had released a total of P77.98 billion to various government agencies and departments for their respective COVID-19 related response programs. —LBG, GMA News