Over 1K NCR workers get cash aid: DOLE

In a report to the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment, DOLE-NCR regional director Sarah Buena Mirasol said her office has extended financial assistance worth PHP5.5 million to 1,074 employees. (File photo by Ramon FVelasquez/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – Over 1,000 formal sector workers in Metro Manila have so far received PHP5,000 cash assistance under the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a report to the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment, DOLE-NCR regional director Sarah Buena Mirasol said her office has extended financial assistance worth PHP5.5 million to 1,074 employees.

“We’ve processed a total of PHP5,504,250 financial support and each of the CAMP beneficiaries received their PHP5,000 assistance through a money remittance scheme,” she said in a statement.

Mirasol said as of Tuesday, they have received 46,213 CAMP applications submitted by 973 private establishments in Metro Manila that have implemented Flexible Working Arrangements (FWAs) or temporary closure, in view of the DOLE Labor Advisory No. 9, series of 2020.

She said they are processing over 43,000 requests for financial assistance from the said number of applications.

Mirasol asked for the patience and cooperation of the employers due to the influx of applications received online.

She also temporarily restricted the entry of visitors to their office and advised clients to send their CAMP applications through e-mail, in compliance with the quarantine protocol and to prevent workplace exposure to Covid-19.

“We have a skeletal workforce available in the office but in strict adherence to the Enhanced Community Protocol in Luzon, we are temporarily not welcoming any visitors. Please understand that we prioritize the safety and health of our customers and so we request our clients and partners to transact or communicate with us online via e-mail or through our hotline numbers to prevent the spread of (coronavirus disease 2019),” she added.

On March 17, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed Department Order 209-20 or the guidelines on CAMP, a safety net program that offers financial support to affected workers in private establishments that have adopted FWAs or temporary closure during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the program, a one-time Financial Assistance equivalent to PHP5,000 shall be provided to affected workers in a lump sum, non-conditional, regardless of the employment status. They also have an option to avail of the Employment Facilitation that provides affected workers access to available job opportunities suitable to their qualifications through job matching, referral, and placement services either for local or overseas employment, employment coaching and labor market information.

To avail of the financial assistance, affected workers whose companies have implemented FWAs or temporary closure are to submit the completed DOLE Establishment Report on the Covid-19 Form (download at http://bit.ly/ncrcovid19ERform) and company payroll for the month of February (or earlier), pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 12, series of 2020.

For immediate processing and remittance of the PHP5,000 assistance, DOLE-NCR also requests a copy of payroll account numbers of affected workers and company payroll’s bank name/branch.

DOLE-NCR through its six field offices is open online via e-mail and through hotline numbers below for any related inquiries or concerns on CAMP from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

Camanava Field Office (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela)

E-mail: camp.cfo@gmail.com / Hotline: 0998-963-3903

Muntaparlas Field Office (Muntinlupa, Taguig, Parañaque, Las Piñas)

E-mail: camp.mtplfo@gmail.com / Hotline: 0998-963-3859

Papamamarisan Field Office (Pasig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan)

E-mail: camp.pfo@gmail.com / Hotline: 0947-994-1433

Manila Field Office

E-mail: camp.mfo@gmail.com / Hotline: 0998-963-3971

Makati-Pasay Field Office

E-mail: camp.mpfo@gmail.com / Hotline: 0995-334-3174 / 0928-354-4238

Quezon City Field Office

E-mail: camp.qcfo@gmail.com / Hotline: 0925-487-5979 / 0947-881-3044.