Additional Funds Needed to Help Workers Affected by Recent 2-week Lockdown

Various government agencies have begun coordinating with one another to urge the allocation of additional funds for formal and informal workers in Metro Manila who will be affected by the 2-week strict lockdown this month, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Among these agencies are the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Sa aming panig, lalo na sa informal at formal workers, medyo handa kami kasi meron pa naman kaming naiwang pondo na bingay sa atin ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management) at Pangulo para sa mga manggagawa,” (“On our part, for informal and formal workers, we’re ready because we still have some funds left which the DBM and the President allotted for workers,”) explained Bello.

“Mas mabuti sanang dagdagan nila kasi we have to be very ready for any eventuality kung talagang matindi ang epekto nitong ECQ (enhanced community quarantine),” (“It’s better if they would give more because we have to be very ready for the effect of this ECQ,”) he added.

Under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP), formal workers may still get a one-time cash assistance of ₱5,000. Informal workers, on the other hand, can be given an equivalent to the minimum wage for cleaning schools or their front yard.

On Friday, the House of Representatives (HoR) also called for the passage of Bayanihan 3 which includes a stimulus package of ₱401 billion. Earlier in June, the HoR gave the green light after its third and final reading but it has since been pending at the Senate.

“There’s no other recourse but a supplemental budget through Bayanihan 3… The President also does not have unilateral power to realign from the national budget. So, under our existing budgets, we don’t have anything for ayuda,” elaborated Albay Representative Joey Salceda.

Source: ABS CBN