DOLE: Over 86,000 displaced workers in Central Luzon get P5,000 cash aid

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –– The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Luzon said it is close to winding down the distribution of P5,000-cash aid to workers affected by work stoppages because of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) against the coronavirus disease.

The DOLE regional office is distributing next week its last allotment for the COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP), according to Aira Cunanan, the agency’s regional public information officer.

A total of 86,368 workers from 3,974 private companies have received the one-time subsidy as of April 23.

CAMP was extended to firms that have resorted to flexible work arrangements or temporary closure because of the ECQ that the national government imposed on March 17.

The money is given as part of the Social Amelioration Program under Republic Act No. 11469 or Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita, DOLE regional director, reported releasing P431.84 million for the CAMP.

It was availed of by 147 firms with 1,849 workers in Aurora, 475 firms with 8,951 workers in Bataan, and 938 firms with 27,337 workers in Bulacan.

A total of 495 firms with 7,190 workers also availed of it in Nueva Ecija, 1,115 firms with 27,942 workers in Pampanga, 358 firms with 4,915 workers in Tarlac, and 446 firms with 8,184 workers in Zambales.

The DOLE central office announced on April 16 that it had stopped accepting applications for CAMP assistance.

By then, it said the P1.6 billion for the CAMP was close to being depleted, the P1.2 billion having been given to 236,412 workers from 10,663 businesses since the program was implemented on March 23.

LZB