MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is looking to provide subsidies amounting to PHP200 per month to 4.1 million minimum wage earners nationwide to help them cope with the rise in prices of basic commodities.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that they are planning to give the amount which is good for 12 months equivalent to PHP2,400.
“In order for them to feel it, we will give it to them one time, so that is PHP2,400,” he said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.
The DOLE chief added that the amount was reached through consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Finance.
Bello said that they are also looking to provide the subsidies until 2020 and maybe increased in the succeeding years.
On the other hand, the DOLE explained that the proposal is still up for approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“It is possible that he will announce it (the approval of the subsidy) during the State of the Nation Address,” Bello added.
Meanwhile, the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) has earlier pushed for the grant of PHP500 cash voucher subsidy for workers. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
