SOME 93% of the funds designated for distribution as worker aid by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has been disbursed to DoLE regional offices, the Labor department said.
In a briefing Monday, Labor Undersecretary Renato L. Ebarle said most of the funds provided by the Bayanihan to Recover as One Law (Bayanihan II) have been disbursed to the regions offices. It expects complete payout of the aid by next week to all beneficiaries.
“We have downloaded 93% of the P16.4 billion for aid and it is with the regional offices,” he said.
The funds support the DoLE’s employment assistance programs such as the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP), the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
He said P560 million for AKAP and almost P1 billion for CAMP have been disbursed to beneficiaries.
“We are confident we will disburse (P16.4 billion) amount by Dec. 18,” he said.
CAMP will provide one time cash assistance of up to P8,000 to employees from the formal sector affec ted by the COVID-19 crisis. TUPAD is a 15-day emergency employment program for informal workers which will be based on the minimum wage of the various regions.
AKAP provides P10,000 in cash assistance to overseas Filipino workers who were retrenched because of the pandemic. — Gillian M. Cortez