12,615 Central Luzon workers get P5,000 each in COVID-19 cash aid

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—At least 12,615 Central Luzon workers have been given P5,000 in cash aid from March 27 to April 4, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Citing a report from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), the PIA said the workers belonged to 664 private establishments which enforced flexible work arrangements or which temporary closed when Luzon was placed under an enhanced community quarantine to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The financial aid was part of DOLE’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), according to Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita, Dole Central Luzon director.

The aid, which was released through a private remittance center, was worth a total of P63.075 million as of April 4. The workers operate in 236 establishments in Pampanga, 124 in Bulacan, 89 in Tarlac, 84 in Zambales, 60 in Bataan, 37 in Nueva Ecija and 34 in Aurora.

Pol Viuya, chair of the Workers Alliance in Region III, said the aid released was only a “dent,” because the Clark Freeport alone has 130,000 workers. Viuya said DOLE should expand the scope of CAMP and not subject it to many requirements for distressed companies.

Edited by TSB