DISPLACED workers who received a cash grant under Bayanihan 1 will no longer receive financial assistance under the Bayanihan to Recover as One or Bayanihan 2 Law.
In a televised press briefing, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Joji Aragon said there cannot be repeat beneficiaries for any of their three emergency assistance programs as prohibited by law.
"Under Section II of the Bayanihan 2 Law, it is stated that those that have already received assistance under Bayanihan 1 cannot receive another one anymore," said Aragon.
Those who were unable to get assistance under Bayanihan 1 shall be prioritized under Bayanihan 2.
She said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered the easing of the processing in a bid to hasten the release of assistance.
"If they are unserved but were able to apply, the process will already be short. You can be sure that you will be served this time," said Aragon.
The Bayanihan 2 Law allocated P13 billion to the DOLE for the provision of assistance to local and overseas workers displaced by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Aragon said the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp) has been allocated P5 billion and is set to benefit 993,432 formal sector workers.
Camp is a one-time financial support of P5,000 to Covid-19 affected workers in private establishments.
Meanwhile, the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program has been allocated P6 billion and is set to benefit 863,867 informal sector workers.
Tupad is a program for informal sector workers, wherein they are engaged in emergency employment and were paid with the minimum wage prevailing in their respective regions.
The Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (Akap) program has been allocated P2 billion and is set to benefit 200,000 overseas Filipino workers.
This is a program that provides a one-time P10,000 or $200 cash aid to qualified OFWs affected by the pandemic. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)