'Hindi… sila ganoon kahirap': Palace says no gov't intervention for displaced PCSO workers for now
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said the government has no plans of intervening on the thousands of workers displaced by the closure of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office gaming outlets for now.
The Philippine National Police had closed down more than 30,000 gaming outlets nationwide following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to revoke franchises issued by the PCSO.
"I'm sure 'yun namang mga naapektuhan hindi naman sila ganoon kahirap. Marami naman silang kinita during those times na they were operating so I'm sure meron silang pondo to live by," Panelo said in a press briefing Tuesday.
(I'm sure those who were affected were not that poor. They earned a lot during those times that they were operating so I'm sure they have funds to live by," Panelo said.
Panelo, later on, said the Department of Labor and Employment should be doing something to provide assistance to the displaced PCSO workers.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier said his agency is ready to provide temporary jobs for the displaced workers.
"Kung magkakaroon ng unemployment then papasok naman kami to provide emergency employment," Bello said Monday.
(If there will be unemployment then we will come in to provide emergency employment.)
Sen. Nancy Binay earlier appealed to the DOLE to extend assistance to the minimum of 120,000 workers displaced by the shutdown of PCSO gaming outlets.
The senator said the agency could assist the workers through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program.
"If each outlet has an average of 4 employees, with more than 30,000 franchise stations closed, we're looking at a minimum of 120,000 displaced workers. Sana mabigyan ng DOLE ng emergency employment at iba pang tulong," Binay said, adding that the DOLE can step up and help.
According to PCSO's 2018 accomplishment report, the small town lottery had provided more than 300,000 jobs in various provinces nationwide.
This includes 13,720 organic employees, 26,227 sales supervisors and 274,649 sales agents and representatives. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
- Latest
- Trending
