BUSINESS groups in Cebu are lobbying for additional funds for the Department of Labor and Employment's (Dole) financial aid program for workers in Central Visayas who have lost their income due to the Covid-19 crisis.

In a joint statement Wednesday, Cebu business leaders have lamented the discontinuation of Dole's Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp), which aided laborers of companies that have temporarily shut operations.

"Discontinuing the program due to lack of funds would create confusion and emotional stress from affected workers especially during this pandemic where they have no source of income due to temporary closure or shutdown," said the statement signed by the presidents of Cebu and Mandaue chambers of commerce, Philippine Retailers Association-Cebu, Cebu Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers.

According to Dole, Central Visayas has a total budget of P158.09 million for the Camp which benefitted 31,618 workers from 1,403 companies across the region.

"Workers are banking on the committed subsidy as it is of big help to them in alleviating their current plight," the businessmen said.

"Closing the program arbitrarily will be perceived as selective and run counter to its original objective of helping the marginalized workers," they added. (CSL)