DOLE to release cash aid for 1.1-M formal workers next week

Under the program, beneficiaries will be provided emergency employment for two weeks and will be paid based on the prevailing minimum wage in the area they are employed. (File photo by Ramon FVelasquez/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the agency is looking to pay the remainder of the 1.4 million target beneficiaries under its Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) next week.

“We have 1.1 million current applications for CAMP. We already paid about 350,000 workers as of yesterday (Thursday). By next week will be reaching more than 50 percent. 60 to 70 percent that will be a good batting average,” Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said in a virtual forum on Friday.

Under CAMP, formal sector workers will be getting a one-time cash subsidy amounting to PHP5,000.00.

On the other hand, she said at least over 500,000 informal sector workers are set to benefit under Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.

Tutay revealed that the allocation under Bayanihan 2 or Bayanihan to Recover as One is PHP6 billion.

“We already gave PHP3 billion to the regional offices. There’s an additional PHP2 or PHP3 billion more than 500,000 will benefit from TUPAD program,” she said. “If it will reach PHP6 billion, there will be more than 800,000 beneficiaries, priority is calamity stricken areas (such as) Bicol region, Regions 1, 3, 4A and 4B,” Tutay added.

Under the program, beneficiaries will be provided emergency employment for two weeks and will be paid based on the prevailing minimum wage in the area they are employed.

The target deadline for all the payouts is on December 19.