Workers affected by pandemic to get assistance from DOLE

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be providing financial help to employees affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in Cebu.

This was revealed yesterday by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during her press conference.

“Duna na’y nahuna-hunaan ang DOLE nga matabang sa mga displaced gyud, katong mga nawad-an gyud ug trabaho… duna na silay mga programs ana,” she said.

Apart from this, Garcia said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also be distributing food packs to the families of the displaced employees.

“Ubay-ubay no nga foodpacks nga buot nato ipa-distribute sa tibuok probinsiya,” she said.

Garcia also urges congressmen from the Province’s seven districts to use their DSWD allocations for the foodpacks.

“Mohangyo sad ko sa atong mga congressman kay duna man ni sila’y ila pong allocation sa DSWD nga maka-augment in terms of foodpacks,” she said.

The concerned government agencies along with the Cebu Provincial Government are set to coordinate with the local chief executives and the City/ Municipal Health Workers to identify the affected individuals.

Meanwhile, to curb price increases in response to panic-buying, Garcia said a “bagsakan” center will be created per government unit.

“Bagsakan” centers will sell rice, canned goods, alcohol and other basic commodities under the standard retail price stipulated in the price ceilings agreed upon by the Provincial Price Monitoring Council.

“Aron pagkontra aning mga nag-overprice, magbutang gyud ta ngadto, together with our mayors, ug isa ka outlet or bagsakan kun diin makapalit ang mga tawo,” she said.

However, Garcia said they will be regulating the amount of purchase so as not to tolerate panic-buying or hoarding.  The “bagsakan” centers are supposed to have already been operational last Tuesday but Garcia said she was unable to convene the mayors because some of them volunteered to go on a self-quarantine after attending the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Convention held last March 10-11.

Garcia said more mayors are expected to also go on self-quarantine after the mayor of Baliwag, Bulacan tested positive of COVID-19 after attending the convention.  FPL (FREEMAN)