The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has distributed over Php 37 million worth of financial aid to tourism workers displaced by the coronavirus pandemic.
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According to the labor department, Php 37, 385,000 were remitted to 7,477 workers in the tourism industry.
DOLE Distributes Php 37 Million in Aid to Displaced Workers in Tourism Industry
DOLE reported that as of December 4, a total of 36,446 workers from 1,210 tourism establishments nationwide have applied for financial assistance, the Philippine Star reported.
In the report, Central Visayas posted the biggest number of applicants with 10,719, followed by the National Capital Region with 6,217 and Western Visayas with 3,783.
Of the total number of applicants, 12,121 workers from 720 establishments nationwide got assistance approval.
Earlier this year, the labor department had urged displaced tourism workers in the formal and informal sectors to avail themselves of financial assistance and emergency employment program of the government.
In line with this, Bello said that displaced tourism workers, which include tour guides and service staff, may receive a one-time financial aid amounting to Php5,000 under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program.
Bello said they may avail themselves of the assistance provided they are employed under a Department of Tourism-accredited Primary Tourism Enterprise, DOT-accredited Secondary Tourism Enterprise, local government unit-licensed (non-DOT-accredited) Primary Tourism Enterprise, or a registered Community-Based Tourism Organization.
Meanwhile, workers in the informal sector whose means of livelihood are tourism-related may also apply for inclusion in the cash-for-work program under the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program.”
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