The number of workers displaced by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and typhoons that recently hit Bicol climbed a week after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that it is expanding its coverage of potential beneficiaries.

DOLE-Bicol spokesperson Johanna Vi Gasga on Wednesday said 15,418 workers received PHP5,000 each under the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program or CAMP with total amount of PHP77 million.

On the other hand, 28,531 workers availed of cash aid from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay ng Ating mga Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD program amounting to PHP136.7 million, while 880 overseas Filipino workers received a total of PHP8.8 million under the Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong (AKAP) Program.

Gasga said DOLE-Bicol has released 40 percent of the total TUPAD allocation of PHP289 million; 41 percent of the total CAMP-DOLE budget of PHP150 million; 20 percent of the total CAMP-Tourism budget of PHP63 million; and 100 percent of the total CAMP-Education allocation of PHP3.6 million.

CAMP is targeting 43,537 beneficiaries, including those displaced in the tourism and education sectors and TUPAD, 40,000 typhoon-affected or Covid-19 displaced workers across Bicol, with combined budget of over PHP489 million.

DOLE-Bicol director Joel Gonzales said during the agency’s 87th anniversary celebration on Tuesday that they were glad to be given the opportunity to serve the Filipino people, particularly those who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the strong typhoons that pummeled the region last month.

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. That’s why, from the DOLE family in Bicol, we will continue to elevate and improve our services to the Bicolanos. Happy commemoration of the 87th anniversary of DOLE,” Gonzales said in Filipino.

DOLE-Bicol announced last week that it was expanding the coverage of the CAMP program to include freelance workers or independent contractors, and even those who already received PHP5,000 each from the first release of the cash assistance in April this year.

Gasga said they announced the expanded coverage of displaced workers as contained in DOLE’s Labor Advisory No. 30-A series of 2020, titled “CAMP-Bayanihan 2 Expanded Coverage of Affected Workers.”

“In the past days, we were disqualifying those who already received cash aid under Bayanihan 1 last April. With this recent advisory we will include them already in CAMP under Bayanihan 2. But we must take note that CAMP slots could be availed of on a first come, first served basis only,” Gasga told the Philippine News Agency.

Requirements are a clear photo of the applicant; copy of the Bureau of Internal Revenue Form 2303 or Certificate of Registration; or income tax return (ITR); or copy of the latest service agreement or contract covering March 17, 2020 onwards.

Gasga said DOLE-Bicol continues to encourage workers displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the destructive typhoons that hit Bicol to avail of the government cash assistance by applying through DOLE’s website reports.dole.gov.ph/ (PNA)