President Rodrigo Duterte has allocated another Php1 billion allocation for the Department of Labor and Employment’s Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong (DOLE-AKAP) program that provides aid for Filipinos whose employment has been affected by the impact of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III confirmed that the President provided further funds that would help more overseas Filipinos who are struggling overseas due to loss of work or other relevant circumstances that have forced them to stop working due to COVID-19.
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“I’m very pleased to announce na after giving us 1.5 billion and nakita naman natin na mukhang kakapusin, nagdagdag ang ating Pangulong Duterte ng 1 billion. So now we have 2.5 billion na ibibigay sa ating mga OFW na nawalan ng trabaho o kaya hindi nakapagtrabaho dahil sa quarantine,” said Secretary Bello during the ‘Laging Handa’ public briefing.
Secretary Bello further revealed that the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices around the globe have already distributed cash assistance to over 130,000 overseas workers that amount to Php 1.3 billion with the provision of Php 10,000 for each displaced overseas worker.
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“So far, we have given 130,000 of our overseas workers amounting to 1.3 billion so mayroon pang naiiwan Usec. Rocky na 1.2 billion para sa ating mga OFW,” said Secretary Bello.
