By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Department of Labor and Employment – Region 6 (DOLE-6) has already released P59,465,000 to workers of private establishments that were affected by the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
As of April 14, 2020, Niezel Anen Sabrido, DOLE-6 Senior Labor and Employment Officer, said that the one-time financial support of P5,000 was extended to 434 companies employing 11,893 workers.
The grant is part of DOLE’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), which is a safety net program that offers financial support to affected workers in private establishments that have adopted Flexible Working Arrangements (FWAs) or temporary closure during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The assistance is non-conditional regardless of the worker’s employment status.
Sabrido said the aid was given in 14 batches but more applicants are still being processed.
Western Visayas has around 2,600 companies employing more than 53,000 workers.
DOLE national office downloaded P70 million for the agency’s CAMP.
Given the number of affected establishments and workers, Sabrido said that the amount won’t be enough.
“But we’re waiting for the directive from the higher office,” she said.
In the meantime, Sabrido said they would continue with the processing of pending applications submitted in their office.
“DOLE won’t stop working. We would still continue with the processing,” she said.
If the currents funds are exhausted, the affected workers would be put under “waiting for payment” status.
DOLE has already issued and uploaded the Notice of Completion issued for Batches 1-14.
“This notice is issued once the financial assistance to workers has already been released to M Lhuillier. Workers may then claim their 5K assistance at their own convenience,” DOLE-6 said in its official Facebook page.
Based on the list, Vallacar Transit (Iloilo Branch) topped the most number off workers granted with the P5,000 aid.
The transport service, which has an office in Barangay Camalig, Jaro, Iloilo City, has 1,715 affected employees. They received a total of P8,575,000.
Affected companies who employ more than a hundred employees are hotels and resorts in Boracay Island.
These include the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel with 130 employees; Regus Prime Resort, Inc. with 153 employees; Seraph Management Group, Inc. (Henann Garden Resort) with 171 employees; the Auhana Boracay Philippines with 307 employees; Henann Palm Beach with 221 employees; BR Manpower Services (Henann Garden Resort) with 130 employees; Paradise Garden Resorr Hotel & Convention Center with 365 employees; and RWJ Water Sports Corp. (Diamond Watersports) with 154 employees.
Also in the list of companies with more than a hundred employees are GDR Transport Services Corporation with 320 employees; Light of Glory Transport Services, Inc. with 673 employees; Team A Sales and Promotion, Inc. with 114 employees; Allnex Construction and Development Corporation with 223 employees; and Jeco Distribution Company, Inc. with 191 employees.
