DOLE Seeks P5-Billion More for Cash Aid for Local & Overseas Workers
DOLE – The Department of Labor and Employment wants to ask P5-billion more from the government to fund the cash aid for the workers.
The Philippines is currently on a health crisis. More than 10,000 cases of coronavirus were recorded in the country. Everyone is advised to stay at home if not for essential purposes.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte accepted the recommendation of the National Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19. The national body assessed the different areas in the country and categorized them among low, medium, and high risk.
The Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is extended in the high risk areas. It will expire on May 15 thus there will be an assessment on whether it would be extended, lifted, or modified.
As per the recommendation of the National IATF, the ECQ in low and medium risk areas were downgraded to a General Community Quarantine (GCQ). It is set until May 15 as well.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines, a lot of people lost their monthly income. Several non-essential businesses temporarily suspended their operation as participation to the fight against coronavirus.
Cash aid is provided by the government through the Social Amelioration Program (SAP). Several other public agencies also moved to help the people.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is in the pursuit to assist the workers who temporarily lost their job amid the crisis.
The Department has requested P7.8 billion from the government. According Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the government has already released P4.2 billion. Based on the report, the agency targets to give the cash aid to around one (1) million workers but only 663,000 were given yet due to the “shortage” of funds.
DOLE will ask P5-billion more from the government to fund the cash aid for the workers. It covers both local and overseas workers who temporarily lost their source of income amid the crisis.
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