The Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) has distributed financial aid to 18 local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help them recover from the impacts of various weather disturbances that hit the region in 2024.

In an interview on Friday, DOLE-5 Director Imelda Gatinao said nearly PHP10 million worth of aid was distributed on Thursday under the DOLE Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) which aims to reduce or mitigate the vulnerability of workers and enterprises to economic disruptions.

“This program is designed to ensure that these businesses do not feel compelled to close due to the disasters they have faced. The government is providing a pump-priming initiative through the DOLE-AMP to help them recover,” she said in Filipino.

Gatinao added the financial aid received will enhance the capacity for job preservation and generation.

“It will improve human resources, enterprise viability, and resilience, raise levels of productivity and competitiveness, and actively contribute to the promotion of decent and sustainable job opportunities,” she said.

Gatinao said the MSMEs received amounts ranging from PHP149,000 to PHP900,000 depending on their needs and the proposals they submitted. (PNA)