The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 extended a total of Php799,950,235 financial assistance to workers affected by the pandemic in Western Visayas.
In a briefing attended by DOLE Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III, DBM Sec. Wendel Avisado, OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac and the officials of the different local government units in the region, Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao presented the accomplishments of the DOLE Regional Office No.VI in the implementation of DOLE initiatives in Western Visayas in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
“The Regional Office has assisted 54,488 workers with a total of Php273, 415, 550 financial assistance under the COVID 19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP),” RD Ticao said. CAMP is a one-time financial assistance of Php5,000 to the affected workers of the formal sector.
Ticao also emphasized the support of DOLE to the informal sector through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program which is an emergency employment program designed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic to the workers in the informal sector.
Under the program, DOLE has provided a total of Php369, 491, 310 financial assistance to 84, 027 beneficiaries through the TUPAD # Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko Disinfection/ Sanitation Project (#BKBK), TUPAD Post COVID under BAYANIHAN I, and TUPAD under BAYANIHAN II.
The DOLE-OWWA collaboration in the implementation of AKAP for OFW has assisted 15, 269 displaced OFWs for a total of Php152,690,000 cash assistance. The program provided a one-time financial assistance of Php10,000 to each displaced OFW due to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, TABANG-OFW program provided a total of Php4,353,375 tertiary education assistance to the 145 dependents of OFWs whose employment were affected by COVID 19. TABANG-OFW is the latest DOLE and OWWA initiative that provides tertiary education assistance equivalent to Php30,000 per dependent of an OFW who died, repatriated or displaced due to COVID 19.
Sec. Bello led in the ceremonial distribution of assistance under Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program which grants P20,000 livelihood assistance to an OFW who returns home; DOLE-AKAP which grants Php10,000 for distressed OFW recipient; Project EASE that grants P10,000 in scholarship assistance per year for four years; and Tabang OFW scholarship, the latest DOLE and OWWA initiative, that gives P30,000 scholarship to a dependent of an OFW who died, displaced or repatriated due to COVID 19.
In his message, Sec. Bello expressed his compassion to the plight of the Filipino workers and he also assured them of DOLE’s far reaching services. “Mga minamahal kong taga-Iloilo yun ang tandaan ninyo. May mga benepisyo galing sa Department of Labor na tutulong sa inyo.”
Sec. Bello also echoed the thrust of the present administration in providing support to the workers especially in this times of crisis, “ang pera ng tao ay huwag itago dahil kailangan iÿan ng tao ngayong panahon ng pandemya.”
RD Ticao expressed his gratitude to the partner-implementers for the unwavering support in the implementation of the programs.
He also acknowledged the strong leadership of Sec. Bello for the successful implementation of DOLE and OWWA initiatives in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. “This is a reflection of the passion and commitment of our leaders and with your leadership Sir (Bello), we were able to accomplish these achievements.”
