Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant and retired police general Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and employers to assist the workers who are applying for the P5,000 cash assistance of the government after losing their jobs due to the implementation of Alert Level 3.
Eleazar said that many workers have no means to go online and apply for DOLE’s one-time cash assistance program so it would be better if the employers themselves will process the application of their employees.
“Marami sa ating mga manggagawang gustong mag-avail ng tulong pinansyal galing sa DOLE ay hindi pa smart phone ang gamit kundi iyong mga de-keypad na telepono, o walang computer kaya nahihirapan silang magproseso ng kanilang application. Kung tutulong rin lang naman tayo sa ating mga manggagawa ay lubus-lubusin na natin. Sana ay mga employers na mismo ang magprocess ng application nila,” he stated.
“Dapat rin ay DOLE na mismo ang lumapit sa mga tao para maipaabot ang tulong ng gobyerno. Maraming paraan para mapadali ang application kung gugustuhin lang natin ito,” he added.
Eleazar, who is running for senator this May elections, said the cash assistance is greatly needed by the workers who lost their jobs due to the restrictions imposed on companies offering non-essential services under Alert Level 3.
“Malaking tulong itong P5,000 para may makain ang mga manggagawa na nawalan ng trabaho o para maipadala nila ito sa kanilang mga pamilya. Makakabawas sa problema ng ating mga manggagawa kung ang mga employers o DOLE na mismo ang tutulong sa kanila para makatanggap sila ng ayuda,” added Eleazar.
The DOLE earlier announced that it has allocated P1 billion for the implementation of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) 3. This aims to provide a one-time P5,000 cash aid to workers and individuals affected by the implementation of Alert Level 3 or higher from January 2022 onwards.
The applications may be submitted either through online or DOLE offices by the affected private establishments and employees.