About P157 million has been allotted by the Department of Labor and Employment for workers displaced by the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis in Western Visayas under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act 2.
The DOLE-6 announced the availability of funds on its official Facebook page Tuesday, with instructions on how qualified employees can avail of the P5,000 financial assistance through the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program or CAMP.
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, in a separate announcement, said that the DOLE-6 informed his office that the amount is a new allocation under Bayanihan 2 and intended for affected workers in the region.
In May, Gasataya delivered a privilege speech calling for additional allocation for the CAMP since many employees were not able to avail of the cash assistance due to lack of funds.
The lawmaker also authored a resolution requesting Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to provide assistance to businesses, whose workers were not able to avail of any assistance from government.
Under the DOLE Department Order 218-2020, those who will get preference are micro, small and medium establishments or, the MSMEs, as well as other private establishments that applied for CAMP on or before April 15, 2020 but did not receive financial assistance under Bayanihan 1.
Also included are MSMEs and other private establishments not categorized as MSMEs that will apply for the first time under Bayanihan 2.
Applications will be accepted online through https://reports.dole.gov.ph.
Under the CAMP Bayanihan 1, the DOLE-6 was able to disburse a total cash assistance of P127 million for 25,400 affected workers in Western Visayas as of July . – NLG
