Labor dep鈥檛 to release P2B听under cash-for-work program during lockdown听听
THE听LABOR听department will distribute P2 billion in听cash-for-work听assistance to workers who will be affected by the two-week lockdown in the capital region and other areas while waiting for the Budget department鈥檚 decision on its request for another P2 billion for cash aid.听听听听
In a news briefing on Wednesday, the Labor department鈥檚 Information and Publication Service听director,听Raul M. Francia,听said the initial P2 billion will be sourced from its听existing听cash-for-work program, which still has a P4 billion ready fund.听听
Mr. Francia said the Labor department is currently waiting for the list of affected workers from companies that will implement a temporary suspension of operations during the lockdown on Aug. 6 to 20 before it disburses the initial P2 billion.听
Beneficiaries will be chosen from the list and assigned temporary work in their communities.听听听
The request for fresh funds was submitted Tuesday, he said.听听
Based on听the request for听an听additional P2 billion,听the distribution will be:听P776 million for workers in Metro Manila, P298.5 million in Central Luzon, P179.1 million in CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), P159.2 million in Western Visayas, P39.8 million in Northern Mindanao, and P537.3 million for other areas that may be put under the strictest quarantine level.听听听
Mr. Francia said the P2-billion budget, if approved, will benefit 398,000 workers听with听each听to听be given up to about P5,000.听
He added that cash assistance will also be allocated for displaced overseas Filipino workers.听鈥斕鼴ianca Angelica D. A帽ago听听
