Bayanihan 2 to boost programs for workers amid Covid-19

THE APPROVAL of the Bayanihan To Recover as One bill (Bayanihan 2) would boost the government programs designed to help workers affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) official said on Wednesday.  

DOLE Undersecretary Joji Aragon made this comment after the Senate on Tuesday passed on third and final reading Senate Bill 1564 or the Bayanihan 2.

She said proposed measure will reconfigure DOLE’s existing programs to help defeat the disease.

“We are thankful that the Bayanihan 2 will be passed. We are looking forward in doubling and pushing for the DOLE’s programs,” she said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Under Bayanihan 1, Aragon said DOLE implemented Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP).

She said the more relaxed quarantine measures in most part of the countries will help DOLE implement the programs needed to assist affected workers.

“That is the reason why under Bayanihan 2, for sure we will reconfigure our programs to help defeat Covid,” she said. “Under Bayanihan 2, we hope that our programs will be approved like the TUPAD.”

She said they are looking to implement an emergency employment at the barangay level.

“Secretary Silvestre Bello would like TUPAD to be more relevant. Therefore, if we introduced the emergency employment program, we will start at the so-called barangay based or community barangay emergency employment program. We will start at the countryside until we reach the urban places,” Aragon said.

The CAMP and TUPAD are part of the Duterte administration’s response to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the health emergency on the low-income workers.

The CAMP provides a one-time cash subsidy of Php5,000.00 to formal sector workers affected by the pandemic.

Under TUPAD, beneficiaries were given the 10-day emergency employment and were paid the minimum wage prevailing in their respective areas.

The AKAP program, on the other hand, is a one-time USD200 (PHP10,000) cash assistance for displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The Bayanihan 2 will provide PHP15 billion for the cash-for-work program and TUPAD of the DOLE. (By Ferdinand Patinio)