A TOTAL of 12,901 workers from 915 private establishments affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic have availed themselves of the P5,000 cash aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Eastern Visayas.

“We at DOLE have done the best way possible we can to extend assistance to our private workers through the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp). Although we were not able to accommodate all applicants due to lack of funds, we are happy serving the people of Region 8,” said DOLE-Eastern Visayas Director Yahya Centi.

DOLE-Eastern Visayas has released a total of P64,505,000 for said one-time financial assistance that was received by the beneficiaries through the nearest MLhuilier remittance center.

Norma Rae Costimian, of DOLE-Eastern Visayas Technical Support Services Division, said of the total approved and paid establishments in the region, 712 have resorted to temporary closure, displacing 8,883 workers while the remaining 203 firms have implemented flexible work arrangements affecting 4,018 employees.

Northern Leyte Field Office, where the highly urbanized city of Tacloban is located, got the biggest share of the Camp funds at 34 percent equivalent to P21,970,000, benefiting 4,394 workers from 291 establishments.

Samar Field Office got 17 percent equivalent to P10,925,000, benefiting 2,185 employees of 120 establishments mostly located in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog.

In West Leyte Field Office, a total of 1,934 workers received the amount totaling to P9,670,000, while in Southern Leyte Field Offices, a total of P9,135,000 was disbursed for 1,827 beneficiaries.

According to DOLE-Eastern Visayas, the remaining three field offices had their fare share considering the fewer establishments located in the said areas.

Biliran Field Office was able to assist 1,117 workers equivalent to P5,585,000 while the Northern Samar Field Office disbursed a total of P4,480,000, benefiting 896 affected workers.

Eastern Samar Field Offices had the smallest share with P2,740,000, benefiting some 548 affected workers, the labor agency said.

With the suspension of Camp “due to depleted funds,” Centi said their office “has done its best effort to extend help to the needy workers of the region displaced by the Covid-19 crisis.” (SunStar Philippines)