Over 520K workers receive cash aid amid COVID-19 crisis — DOLE

MANILA, Philippines — More than 520,000 workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic have received P5,000 cash aid from the national government, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Friday.

Data from DOLE presented during the online meeting of the social amelioration cluster of the House of Representatives’ Defeat COVID-19 Committee (DCC) shows that as of 5 p.m. of April 30, a total of 522,855 workers have received P5,000 aid under their COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP).

This amounts to over P2.614 billion, DOLE said.

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, DOLE said that 313,700 beneficiaries have benefitted from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program #Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko Disinfecting/Sanitation Project (TUPAD #BKBK).

Over P900 million of the P1.146 billion funds allocated for the program have been distributed, DOLE said.

Under TUPAD #BKBK, 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.”

DOLE noted that there are “limited funds to cover all workers affected by the [enhanced community quarantine.]”