DOLE begins COVID-19 cash aid distribution in Catanduanes

The Department of Labor and Employment on Tuesday said it started distributing the P13 billion given to the DOLE for COVID-19 cash aid.

“Ready na po kami na i-pay out ‘yung binigay niyo sa amin na P13 billion… to include ‘yung P3 billion from the tourism tsaka P300 million sa teachers, ‘yung mga non-teaching positions,” DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte during his weekly address to the country.

“Kanina nga… nag payout na po kami sa Virac, Catanduanes, including Bato, Catanduanes. Doon sa Tupad,” he later added.

In late October, the DOLE 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 amount, P6 billion was allocated for TUPAD or the cash for a work program that was expected to benefit 863,867 individuals.

Meanwhile, P5 billion went to CAMP to serve 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.

“And then ‘yung binigay niyo na P1 billion para sa mga anak ng mga OFW na one college student per displaced OFW, for payout na po lahat,” Bello said. — DVM, GMA News