DOLE eyes opening application for workers' P5K cash aid next week

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday is targeting to open the application for a one-time P5,000 cash aid to private sector workers affected by Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and 50 other areas until the end of January.

At a virtual press briefing, DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said the draft guidelines for the agency’s P1-billion COVID Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP) 2022 has been presented to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for his approval. 

Tutay said the guidelines contain the eligibility and documentary requirements needed to avail of the one-time cash assistance.

Once the guidelines are signed by Bello by Thursday, she said it will be immediately published in a newspaper of general circulation for it to take effect.

“Hopefully, starting next week tayo ay mago-open na ng ating system for application of CAMP for the formal sectors affected by Alert Level 3 or higher,” Tutay said.

The DOLE official said the CAMP 2022 is seen to benefit about 200,000 workers.

Tutay said the DOLE will prioritize in the CAMP 2022 cash aid program workers who were displaced due to permanent closure of the business establishments they are working for or those retrenched by their employers.

Data from the DOLE from January 1 to 15, 2022 showed a total of 11,586 workers were displaced nationwide from 759 establishments, 91% of which or 687 reduced their workforce while 9% or 72 reported permanent closure.

The Labor official said the DOLE maintained the submission of establishments’ status reports -- reduced workforce or permanent closure -- as documentary requirement to avail of the one-time cash aid for their respective workers.

She added that employers need to submit latest payroll of their displaced workers or any proof of payment of wages such as cash voucher, employment contract, or authority to debit accounts sent to the bank.

Tutay said individual workers can apply for CAMP 2022 if they are not included in the list submitted by their employers in the DOLE’s online system.

She said that those who already benefitted from the CAMP during the implementation of Bayanihan 1 and 2 are excluded from the CAMP 2022 one-time cash assistance program.

However, she said the DOLE will evaluate if a worker who previously received a one-time P5,000 cash can still avail of the latest cash assistance.

Metro Manila and its nearby provinces have been under Alert Level 3 since January 7, and the government has extended it until the end of this month as it places more areas under the Alert Level 3 for the entirety of January. 

Under Alert Level 3, several establishments will be allowed to operate at 30% indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50% outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated.

Face-to-face classes, contact sports, funfairs/perya, and casinos are among the activities and establishments that are prohibited under Alert Level 3. —LBG, GMA News