DOLE, DOT relax qualifications for displaced tourism workers to get cash aid, avail cash-for-work

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have relaxed the qualification requirements for pandemic-displaced tourism-related workers to avail of the agencies’ cash aid and cash-for-work program.

In a virtual press conference on Friday, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said the Labor and Tourism departments have amended the implementing guidelines on providing financial assistance and cash-for-work to allow previously disqualified tourism workers  to benefit from the program.

The amended guidelines are contained in DOLE-DOT Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001 issued on February 10, 2021. The new circular amended the JMC No. 2020-001 issued in November last year.

The joint program by the DOT and DOLE has an allocation of P3.1 billion under Republic Act No. 11494 or Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

“Out of the P3.1 billion fund for the tourism sector, almost a billion ang naipamahagi na sa tourism-related sector workers natin so meron pa pong about P2.1 billion na funds and it’s still ongoing po at ang ating Bayanihan 2 naman ay extended,” Tutay said.

“May mga pamantayan po ang DOLE at DOT dito sa pamamahagi ng ayuda para sa tourism-related sectors para mas maaabot ang workers under this sector. Nagkaroon po ng revision o amendment sa in-issue na guidelines ng DOT at DOLE,” she said.

The Labor official said that there are about 400,000 applicants for the program whose applications are still undergoing evaluation.

“Part of that 400,000 or so applicants ay nag benefit sa SBWS (Small Business Wage Subsidy) ng DOF (Department of Finance) at SSS (Social Security System) and its one of the disqualifications under the previous guidelines. In the amended medyo ni-relax natin ang guidelines kaukol dito,” Tutay said.

“Meron din po, ‘yung mga nakareceive ng unemployment insurance benefits dahil natanggal sila sa trabaho, ito ay disqualifiaction under the previous guidelines. This has also been relaxed through the request of [Tourism] Secretary Berna Puyat,” she added.

Under the JMC No. 2021-001, a displaced tourism work shall be entitled to avail financial assistance under the DOLE’s CAMP or COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program, a one-time cash aid amounting to P5,000.

Or they can avail of the cash-for-work program under TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program, where displaced informal sector workers were provided with temporary wage employment.

For his part, Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said the relaxed guidelines will allow more tourism workers to benefit from the joint DOLE and DOT program.

“Na-relax na ang guidelines so mas marami na ang nagka-qualify dito. Para matulungan talaga ang workers natin,” Bengzon said.—AOL, GMA News