DOLE investigating into deducted COVID-19 cash aid in Palawan

The Department of Labor and Employment on Thursday said it is probing the alleged deduction on the payout of some beneficiaries in Palawan under the cash assistance program for displaced workers.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he is seriously considering suspending the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in the area.

“What I instructed our regional director in Region 4B is to investigate the allegation and to submit immediately a report on the allegation,” he said in an interview on ANC.

As reported by DOLE spokesperson Director Rolly Francia, some “coordinators” of an official in the second district of Palawan allegedly deducted P2,000 from the P3,200 payout of the beneficiaries.

He added that the affected beneficiaries are indigenous people.

Bello said the DOLE is still gathering information regarding the incident because he only received such reports through informal text messages.

In September, the DOLE recalled its field officer in Quezon City to shed light on the anomalies in the department’s cash-for-work program for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers in the city.

It also halted the release of cash aid in districts of Quezon City after some workers complained that they only received P2,000 when they should be getting P7,500 salary for 14 days of work.

The workers also claimed that a portion of the payout was also given to “coordinators.”—AOL, GMA News