BACOLOD City – Around P157 million has been allotted for workers in Western Visayas displaced by job retrenchments and closure of businesses due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Cong. Greg Gasataya disclosed this after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 informed his office about the availability of funds under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).
In May, Gasataya delivered a privilege speech calling for additional allocation for the program since many employees were not able to avail themselves of the cash assistance.
The lawmaker also authored a resolution requesting Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III to provide assistance to business establishments whose workers were not able to receive the said benefit.
Qualified beneficiaries can get P5,000 financial assistance through the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP).
Under the DOLE Department Order 218-2020, those who will get preference are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other private establishments not categorized as MSMEs that will apply for the first time under Bayanihan 2.
Applications are accepted online through https://reports.dole.gov.ph.
Under the CAMP Bayanihan 1, the DOLE-6 disbursed a total cash assistance of P127 million for 25,400 affected workers in Western Visayas as of July 1.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw the imposition of various levels of community quarantine, which halted the operations of business establishments.
In Region 6, accommodation and food service activities were among those adversely affected./PN
