Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 1) — Some senators have issued appeals for quicker distribution of financial aid to workers affected by the coronavirus crisis.
“Ngayong nasa ilalim pa tayo ng Enhanced Community Quarantine at General Community Quarantine, pabilisin natin ang ayuda at apurahin na ang pagkilos upang makabangon ang ating mga manggagawa mula sa kahirapan at pagdurusa,” detained Sen. Leila de Lima said in a statement.
[Translation: Now that we are under the enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine, let us aim for faster aid distribution so we can help them pick themselves up from misery.]
“Don’t start with proposals that will not carry through and will just end up giving our workers false hopes,” added de Lima, who chairs the Senate Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development
Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian urged his fellow public officials to work with employers so help in the form of aid and incentives could be brought to workers quickly, stressing that “no one should be left behind.”
Gatchalian noted in a statement that “many lost their jobs and some were left with no assurance if they can get their jobs back.”
Senator Nancy Binay also appealed to the Labor Department to come up with a better social amelioration program for workers who lost their jobs or are in a no-work, no-pay situation.
“We urge the Department of Labor and Employment to continue and improve its programs for displaced workers; its emergency fund for OFWs; and its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) for those in the informal sector,” Binay said.
Earlier this week, DOLE said the COVID-19 lockdown displaced over two million Filipino workers. But due to its limited funds, DOLE said it could only provide aid to 650,000 workers. The department added that more than 500,000 affected employees have received a one-time financial assistance worth P5,000.
Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of Senate Committee on Labor, said employers must ensure the safety of all workers since the gradual reopening of businesses in parts of the country have been allowed.
“Kailangan po na handa ang lahat ng industriya sa pagsisiguro ng kaligtasan ng mga manggagawa laban sa maaari o muling pag-usbong ng COVID-19,” Villanueva said.
[Translation: Industries need to make sure precautionary measures are in place to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19.]
General community quarantine is implemented in all parts of the country except for National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon (except for Aurora), Pangasinan, Benguet (including Baguio City), Iloilo, Cebu (including Cebu City), Bacolod City, and Davao City. This will last until May 15.
