More than 5,000 applications for the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) program assisting displaced workers due to the pandemic have been approved.
In the Jan. 27 Laging Handa briefing, DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said the department has already received 22,000 applications for COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) 3 as of Wednesday (Jan. 26).
“More than 5,000 po dito ay na-approve na based on the evaluation of our regional offices, around 12,000 naman po iyong for evaluation, and then more than 4,000 po iyong for further verification po,” she said.
The third tranche of CAMP, which has an allocated fund of P1 billion from the 2022 national budget, will only cover displaced workers “by reason of retrenchment or permanent closure of the company under Alert Level 3.”
The official said this is enough for the assistance of 200,000 workers.
Tutay said there are around 25,000 affected workers who have temporarily or permanently lost their jobs, while around 30,000 are under flexible working arrangements who are not covered by the financial aid.
“Noong January 23, around 25,000 po iyong affected by reason of permanent closure and retrenchment at saka temporary closure,” she said.
“So, ang ginawa po natin, magda-download lang po muna tayo ng sapat na pondo amounting to around P130 million para ma-accommodate po iyong initial na 25,000 po na affected workers,” she added.
Employers or qualified individuals may apply to the program, with the latter required to show their photo with their government-issued ID and proof of employment or termination.
“Dapat po ang ating mga establishments ay mayroon pong report ng temporary closure or kaya po permanent closure and temporary closure sa atin pong reports.dole.gov.ph,” she said.
She said the latest payroll of the company must also be submitted, noting that even those in November and December 2021 are accepted.
“Puwede rin na mag-submit po sila ng proof of payment via leger or iyong logbook. Mayroon din pong employment contract o kaya iyong mga cash voucher, petty vouchers po, authority to debit account doon po sa mga Bangko,” she said. – With reports from Louisa Erispe/AG
Watch the full interview with ASec. Tutay here:
