THE Davao City Council is urging the local government to give aid to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Councilor Pamela Librado-Morata, committee chair on labor and employment opportunities, filed a resolution on Tuesday, March 10, requesting the City Government and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to give assistance to affected workers.
Librado-Morata, in her privilege speech, said she is calling for the government’s “efficient” intervention and allocation of possible assistance to local and overseas contract workers who lost their jobs due to Covid-19.
As of Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a total of 33 cases in the country.
The councilor said the current widespread of the virus has affected the entire world, especially OFWs who were either sent home or were fired because of the unstable health situation of the country they are working.
She cited an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report where the country has reached an estimated P1.9 billion dollar-loss in the gross domestic product (GDP) due to the virus.
She also said Dole confirmed that several companies have already suspended its local and domestic operations, and that an international airline company recently ordered reductions on their workers’ salaries.
“Kung magkasakit atong mga trabahante, kung mawad-an sila og panginabuhian o trabaho, kinsa man ang magbuhi sa ilang pamilya? O kung magsakit ang mga kabos, kinsa ma’y mubayad sa ilang panginahanglanun sa ospital? (If the workers would get sick, and lose their job or source of livelihood, who will feed their families? Or when the poor gets sick, who will shoulder their hospital bills?),” Librado-Morata said.
She also urged the local government, through the Public Employment Services Offices (Pesos), to prioritize them in giving employment opportunity in the city.
She added there is also a need to re-evaluate and reassess Dole’s financial assistance programs, including the Adjustment Measures Program (AMP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantage/Displaced Workers Program (Tupad) and the Government Internship Program to meet the needs of local and overseas workers affected due to Covid-19. (with Shemuel C. Anino, UM intern)