EVEN as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has stopped its cash assistance program, the number of formal sector workers displaced by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao continues to rise and is now at nearly 1.7 million
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the number of displaced workers, as of April 17 stands at 1,696,814. The figure was sourced from 63,335 reporting business establishments nationwide.
“Of this number, more than 1.2 million workers were affected by temporary closures, while over 550,000 of them are on alternative work arrangements, like reduced workdays, rotation, forced leave, and telecommuting,” said Bello.
The highest displacement was recorded in Metro Manila with about 570,523 workers, followed by Central Luzon with 274,910, Calabarzon with 123,687 and Davao Region with 100,275.
Rounding up the Top 10 are Northern Mindanao with 94,101; Cagayan Valley 86,467; Central Visayas 68,250; Cordillera Administrative Region 61,200; Western Visayas 59,548; and the Bicol Region with 57,167.
Other regions with displacements are MIMAROPA with 51,167; CARAGA 36,390; Eastern Visayas 33,649; Ilocos region 32,017; Zamboanga Peninsula 30,530; and SOCCSKSARGEN with 17,895.
Last week, DOLE announced the termination of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) which provides a one-time P5,000 assistance to formal sector workers affected by the ECQ, due to insufficient funds.
The program has provided cash assistance to a total of 264,154 displaced workers amounting to P1.32 billion.
HOPE
Bello said he is hopeful DOLE can still be able to resume CAMP due to fresh moves in Congress calling for the augmentation of the department’s funds for emergency subsidy program.
In particular, Bello cited efforts of Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resource development, to pump additional funding to the CAMP by asking the Department of Budget and Management to replenish DOLE’s funds.
“We are grateful to Senator Villanueva for the unwavering support in helping our workers tide over during this health crisis,” Bello said.
According to Villanueva, the “Bayanihan Law” states that DOLE programs will be prioritized for budget augmentation, but it has so far received only 16 percent of the total proposed funding requirement.
