Displaced tourism workers get P37 million aid

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has distributed over P37 million in financial aid to tourism workers displaced by the coronavirus pandemic.

The DOLE reported that P37,385,000 were remitted to 7,477 tourism workers.

As of Dec. 4, DOLE said 36,446 workers from 1,210 tourism establishments nationwide have applied for financial assistance.

Central Visayas posted the biggest number of applicants with 10,719, followed by the National Capital Region with 6,217 and Western Visayas with 3,783.

Of the total number of applicants, 12,121 workers from 720 establishments nationwide got assistance approval.

DOLE had earlier urged displaced tourism workers in the formal and informal sectors to avail themselves of financial assistance and emergency employment program of the government.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said displaced tourism workers, such as tour guides and service staff, may receive a one-time financial aid amounting to P5,000 under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program.

He said they may avail themselves of assistance provided they are employed under a Department of Tourism-accredited Primary Tourism Enterprise, DOT-accredited Secondary Tourism Enterprise, local government unit-licensed (non-DOT-accredited) Primary Tourism Enterprise or a registered Community-Based Tourism Organization.

Workers in the informal sector whose means of livelihood are tourism-related may apply for inclusion in the cash-for-work program under the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program.”