Lockdown to displace 127K Metro workers

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said close to 130,000 workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) are projected to be displaced by the imposition of a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila beginning on Friday.

Metro Manila is set to go under ECQ from August 6 to 20 in an attempt by the government to control the spread of the Delt variant of the coronavirus in the country. So far, 216 Delta cases have been reported, with 17 still active.

In a virtual press briefing, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said that “if we talk about NCR, we estimate that about 127,000 will be adversely affected.”

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Tutay said the number is composed of those that are already on flexible work arrangements since the start of 2021.

“These are the workers that will be most likely affected since they are already working under reduced working days. Then, with an ECQ in effect, where there are more restrictions, they will most likely feel the impact of the two-week lockdown,” she also said.

Additional number, according to the labor official, may come from those who will be permanently displaced by the pandemic.

Tutay said the reimposition of the two-week ECQ in the NCR is an unfortunate development as it comes at a time when businesses are just starting to recover from the devastation brought by the pandemic.

“The situation is close-open. At a time when establishments are just starting to gain momentum, we close them down. That is a big hurdle,” said Tutay.

She noted how the monthly average of displaced workers has already started to go down in recent months, from 46,000 to 36,000 to 27,000 workers over the last three months.

“With another lockdown, our numbers can once again climb to anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000,” said Tutay.

Given the impending imposition of the ECQ in Metro Manila, Tutay said the DOLE is now looking at the possibility of realigning a portion of their budget for emergency employment assistance to serve as cash assistance for would-be displaced workers.

Tutay said they are considering reclassifying their less than P4 billion budget for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program for the financial assistance being eyed by DOLE amid the two-week lockdown.

“We don’t have any legal basis to provide cash assistance except the TUPAD funds, which is under the 2021 General Appropriations Act,” said Tutay, adding: ““We have around less than P4 billion left… It is possible that we will be allowed to reallocate it for this purpose.”

Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said the DOLE has been given directives to find the budget for a new round of cash assistance for displaced workers.

“We have been instructed to find available funding so that we can help the would-be displaced workers,” said Benavidez in a televised public briefing. “In our present budget, we still have funds for displaced workers, which is TUPAD,” he added.

In previous ECQ impositions, the DOLE has implemented the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), which is a one-time P5,000 financial assistance to affected formal sector workers in private establishments.

On the other hand, the DOLE also introduced the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), which is an emergency employment assistance, wherein informal sector workers are paid with the minimum wage prevailing in their respective regions.

CASH AID

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured families that would be affected by the two-week lockdown in Metro Manila of a P1,000 cash aid per individual or a maximum of P4,000 cash aid per family.

Roque said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is still looking for fund sources.

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“The P1,000 per person and a maximum of P4,000 per family will surely be given, what is not yet sure is where to source the funds,” Roque said.

Roque said the cash aid will be similar to the one-time cash aid given to those affected by the ECQ from July to August in Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog.

The P1,000 cash aid was sourced from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD’s) Assistance to Individuals/Families In Crisis (AICS) program.

Meanwhile, Roque said the proposed 2022 budget will be the government’s “stimulus package” but he could not provide details yet as to how much of the fund will be allocated for COVID- response efforts.

He said Budget secretary Wendel Avisado had completed the proposed budget for next year and submitted it to the Office of the President before he went on medical leave. He said the proposed budget is pending approval and printing.

It should be submitted to the House of Representatives within one month after the state of the nation address. — With Jocelyn Montemayor

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