WHILE the Bayanihan 3 bill remains pending in Congress, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday expressed hopes that it will soon be passed to pave the way for more assistance to workers affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a virtual press briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said: “We are hoping that it (Bayanihan 3) will be passed so that our funds to assist workers will be replenished and more will benefit.”
In particular, Bello said they are looking to provide more assistance to formal and informal sector workers, as well as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Bello noted how the DOLE has been able to provide assistance to 4.13 million workers after disbursing P22.93 billion since last year.
Under the department’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), some 1.76 million workers benefited from the P8.47 billion disbursed fund. CAMP is a one-time P5,000 financial assistance to affected formal sector workers in private establishments.
For the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), 1.86 million workers benefited from the P9.13 billion funds. TUPAD is an emergency employment assistance, wherein informal sector workers are paid with the minimum wage prevailing in their respective regions.
As for Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP), there have already been 505,555 OFWs provided assistance after disbursing P5.33 billion. AKAP is a one-time US$200.00 or P10,000 cash aid to displaced sea-based and land-based OFWs.
The proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act remains pending in Congress.
