MANILA, July 19 — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided PHP30 million under the emergency employment program (EEP) which will benefit close to 3,000 people affected by the current crisis in Marawi City.
During the pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) press conference on Wednesday in Manila, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said a total of 2,900 workers from the besieged town are looking to benefit from the program.
“Nagpadownload kami ng PHP30 million para sa Marawi at sa neighboring municipalities of Lanao del Sur including one of the municipalities of Lanao del Norte. So we sent there PHP30 million worth of emergency employment program,” he said.
Bello explained that the evacuees will be provided employment for one month and will receive PHP9,000.00.
“Out target beneficiaries are 2,900 workers. 30 days sila magwork. So if they work for 30 days. They are given I think a minimum wage, I think, of Php300.00 per day. PHP9,000.00 per worker,” he said.
The DOLE chief noted that the beneficiaries would be deployed in neighboring provinces.
“Hindi pa sila puwedeng magtrabaho sa Marawi. ‘Yung mga malapit…within the province of Lanao del Sur including Lanao del Norte,” Bello added.
Thousands of people have flee Marawi and sought refuge to nearby areas due to the ongoing conflict between government forces and Maute group. (Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA)