A total of 502 workers in the province of Surigao del Norte have already received assistance under the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) Bayanihan 2 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

May C. Velonta, the provincial head of DOLE in Surigao del Norte (DOLE-SDN), told the Philippine News Agency Wednesday (Dec. 9) that over PHP26 million worth of financial aid was already released by the agency to the distressed workers in the province.

“These number of workers are from 353 establishments in the province who applied for CAMP Bayanihan 2,” Velonta said.

She noted that DOLE-SDN targets a total of 9,400 workers to be covered by the program in the province with an allocation of PHP47 million.

She reminded the establishments in the province of the deadline for the submission of applications for CAMP Bayanihan 2 on Thursday, Dec. 10.

“The financial assistance of PHP5,000 each received by our workers helped them especially during the pandemic,” Velonta said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued Department Order No. 218 last Oct. 28 directing the continued assistance to displaced workers and employees due to the effects of the pandemic.

Velonta said that under the new order, qualified to apply for CAMP Bayanihan 2 are those who were not served during the CAMP Bayanihan 1 implementation and those employed in micro, small, medium and even large enterprises such as mining companies.

The DOLE’s Order No. 218 is anchored on Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) that was promulgated on Sept. 11, 2020. (PNA)