The Department of Labor in Caraga Region (DOLE-13) released over PHP5.6 million to private sector workers affected by the community quarantine around the region to contain the spread of 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

A total of 1,117 workers in the private sector in four provinces in the region already received cash assistance through the DOLE’s Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program Fund or CAMP Fund, DOLE-13 Director Chona Mantilla said.

Mantilla said DOLE-13 already released on Monday the PHP1,516,040 financial aid to 302 workers in Surigao del Norte, PHP1,450,780 to 289 workers in Surigao del Sur, and PHP577,300 to 115 workers in Agusan del Sur.

The PHP2,063,200 financial aid to 411 workers in Agusan del Norte was released last March 26, she said.

“These workers belong to the formal sector because they have employers. They are among those who are affected directly by the measures we are doing to contain the Covid-19,” Mantilla said.

She added that most of the affected workers are in the micro, small and medium enterprises in the region.

DOLE-13 is also gathering the list of those in the informal sectors through the LGUs in the region, Mantilla said.

“Those in the informal sectors, to include the self-employed, underemployed, the rural folks and fisherfolks will also receive financial assistance from the agency through the Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (BKBK) project,” she said.

She added that as of Monday (March 30), a total of 1,500 individuals under the category of informal sectors were already validated.

Their work in their respective fields were already recorded starting Monday and they will receive cash assistance in the amount of PHP3,200 after ten days, Mantilla said.

“We are validating the list of informal workers daily so that we can provide assistance to more people who will be affected by the efforts to contain Covid-19,” she said.

She also called on DOLE provincial offices in the region to coordinate by the LGUs and barangays in the listing and validation of the list of the informal sectors.

“The government is working to provide assistance to our people, especially in catering their needs in the midst of the fight against Covid-19,” she said. (PNA)