CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-X Regional Director Lawyer Joffrey M. Suyao announces that under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program’s (CAMP) one-time P5,000 financial assistance, a total of 4,078 applications from covered applicant employers in the private sector were evaluated covering a total of 72,152 workers as of April 13.
Of the 4,078 evaluated applications, 3,044 companies implemented temporary closure displacing 46,864 workers while 1,034 of which implemented Flexible Working Arrangements (FWAs) affecting 25,288 workers.
Applications evaluated are distributed by area: Cagayan de Oro City recorded the highest at 1,988 companies with 43,777 affected workers; followed by Bukidnon province at 568 companies, affecting 6,869 workers; Lanao del Norte province at 450 companies covering 6,970 affected workers;
Misamis Occidental province at 390 companies with 4,954 affected workers; Misamis Oriental province reported 381 companies involving 7,002 workers; and Camiguin Island province recorded 301 companies with 2,555 workers.
According to size of enterprises, of the total evaluated 57 percent or 2,412 were classified under micro enterprises (employing 1-9 workers), 42 percent were under small enterprises (employing 10-99 workers) or 38,049; 1.2 percent were accounted to medium size enterprises (employing 100-199 workers) or 6,377; 0.8 percent belong to large scale businesses (employing 200 or more) or 14,468 workers.
As of to date, payments are ongoing through our accredited service provider, the MLhuillier remittance available nationwide.
Currently, DOLE-X is maximizing all its efforts to fast-track the evaluation of the emailed applications through the majority of its manpower working on it.
Suyao specifically emphasized that based on DOLE Department Order No. 209 (DO 209-20), Series of 2020 on CAMP and local directives of the LGU on social distancing and community quarantine, DOLE-X created a social media Facebook Account: DOLEX COVID Assistance where updates are posted like the Notice of Approved Applications and Notice of Completion to keep our clients updated.
DOLE is implementing the program in the interest of aptly extending the financial assistance to affected workers in an expeditious, efficient and most practical mechanism with least waste of time possible.
“Our Facebook page is created as an interactive communication medium and program advocacy as well, in fact, we have also posted the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of the Department Orders and related issuances, translated in the Visayan vernacular for easy comprehension of the region’s affected workers,” Suyao said.
In view of the Presidential Proclamation No. 922, Series of 2020 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the country due to COVID-19, DOLE upholds its mandate protecting the interests of workers in the private sector ensuring their health, safety and welfare.
In response, the DOLE’s DO 209-20, otherwise known as the “CAMP” was approved by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, March 17 and took effect March 21. It prioritizes workers in the MSMEs (workers 200 or less) while those in large establishments (200 or more) are least priorities.
CAMP is a safety net program granting a one-time financial support to affected workers in the formal sector regardless of work status. With the rising incidence of COVID-19, CAMP is a mechanism of social protection that ensures the welfare of affected workers in the formal sector employed either directly or indirectly or any legitimate contractual arrangements.
Aimed to address and cushion financial difficulties of workers affected by the pandemic COVID-19, the government through DOLE grants P5,000 one-time financial assistance to affected workers in private establishments whose employment face or suffer interruption due to COVID-19 pandemic like FWA with reduction of their earning capacity or retention of employment but reduced working hours and incomes due to FWAs; or whose employment is disrupted by reason of temporary suspension of business operation or closure due to COVID-19.
Eligible applicants of CAMP must be a private establishment that has implemented FWAs or temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting wages of workers with a report duly submitted to the DOLE.
It also covers all workers in private establishments affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from its onset in January 2020 until April 14, 2020 unless extended as part of the Stringent Social Distancing Measures by the government.
Large establishments are highly encouraged to cover full wages of employees affected by the one-month community quarantine period. (DOLE10/PIA10)
