Over 286,000 workers assisted by DOLE amid COVID-19 crisis – Duterte report

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment has assisted over 286,000 workers during the coronavirus pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said in his weekly report submitted Monday.

According to the report, the labor department has two main programs to assist affected and displaced workers during the pandemic—the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Worker (TUPAD) – Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko program.

CAMP has a total of 321,975 target workers while TUPAD has 235,949.

According to DOLE Department Order No. 209, CAMP “shall cover workers in private establishments affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from its onset in January 2020 until the lifting of the Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region on 14 April 2020, unless extended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.”

Government employees, however, are not covered by the program.

Meanwhile, under TUPAD, a beneficiary “works for a 10-day disinfection/sanitation of his/her house and its vicinity to be paid pursuant to the prevailing regional daily minimum wage.”

As of April 9, Duterte said DOLE has reported that TUPAD program has provided assistance to 46 percent of its target beneficiaries or 118,086 workers which is equivalent to P206 million.

Meanwhile, DOLE has assisted 167,941 workers under CAMP which is equivalent to P840 million.

In compliance with Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which granted the president additional powers to address the coronavirus pandemic, Duterte is required to submit a weekly report to Congress “of all acts performed pursuant to this Act.”

He is required to submit the report every Monday of the week.