DOLE asks P6B more funds for OFWs, formal workers affected by COVID-19 in 2022 budget

The Department of Labor and Employment on Thursday asked the House Committee on Appropriations for P6 billion more funds for the cash aid for migrant workers and formal workers amid the pandemic.

During the House budget hearing on the proposed P44,364,681,000 budget of the DOLE for 2022, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the department needs the budget to help these workers.

“Kung maaari dagdagan nila ‘yung allocation para sa CAMP, yung ating formal workers (If they may additional allocation for CAMP, out program for formal workers),” Bello said.

“And then another more important allocation would be for overseas Filipino workers,” he added.

The Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program provides cash assistance of P10,000 or US$200 for OFWs displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) provides P5,000 cash aid to affected workers in the formal sector.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that there were 3.07 million jobless Filipinos in July amid the pandemic. — RSJ, GMA News