The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is eyeing to start its cash aid program for private-sector workers affected by the implementation of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and other areas by the end of January.
The DOLE said it will start accepting applications for the program which will give a one-time P5,000 aid to affected workers.
DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said the draft guidelines for the program have already been presented to DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III for his approval. The DOLE said the guidelines contain the requirements and eligibility for the agency’s P1-billion COVID Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP) 2022.
The DOLE said overall, CAMP 2022 is expected to benefit 200,000 workers nationwide.
Tutay said once signed by Bello, the guidelines will be made public and will be published in newspapers. The official said the DOLE is also looking at opening the applications for the cash aid by “next week.”
From January 1 to 15, 2022, the DOLE said 11,586 workers were displaced nationwide from more than 750 business establishments.
An overwhelming 91 percent of these businesses have reduced their workforces. Some have also reportedly closed permanently.
Tutay said employers will also need to send their latest payroll of displaced workers of any proof of payment for wages, such as vouchers, workers’ contracts, etc.
Aside from hard copies of documents, displaced workers can also apply online through the DOLE’s website.
Alert Level 3 has been raised in Metro Manila and other areas since the first week of January. Businesses can only operate on a limited basis under this alert level.
