The Department of Labor and Employment will start giving cash assistance under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to local and overseas workers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic next week.
“We expect that the budget will be given or downloaded to the DOLE so next we can start giving the assistance to our countrymen,” Usec. Benjo Benavidez said.
He added the cash assistance will be given in the form of programs such as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad), emergency employment, or one-time financial assistance through Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP).
Under Bayanihan 2, the DOLE will get P13 billion to finance these programs to help formal and informal employees and overseas Filipino workers who were displaced due to the pandemic.
DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III said they earlier asked for the initial release of P8B to start the financial aid distribution: P3B each for Tupad and AKAP and P2B for CAMP.
Around two million workers are expected to benefit from Tupad and CAMP.
The AKAP targets to benefit 250,000 displaced OFWs.
The CAMP provides a one-time cash subsidy of P5,000 to formal sector workers while Tupad beneficiaries were given emergency employment and paid the minimum wage prevailing in their respective areas.
The assistance to OFWs who are stranded either abroad or in the country due to the pandemic under the AKAP is a one-time P10,000 cash assistance. – PNA release
