Displaced workers and parents of child laborers in Lipa City, and the towns of Bauan and San Pascual in Batangas have received cash assistance and livelihood opportunities from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the beneficiaries in Batangas were among the more than P5.1 million of financial and livelihood assistance that were distributed to workers who were affected by the economic and social disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Of the P5.1 million, P2.9 million was allocated for informal sector workers displaced by the pandemic in the three municipalities in the province under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program.
In Bauan, 300 workers received their P4,000 each for the 10-day cash-for-work project while 442 beneficiaries were also granted with the same cash aid in Lipa City.
A total of 45 parents of child laborers in Lipa City received Nego-Kart (Negosyo sa Kariton), a project of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) that aims to assist ambulant vendors to make their business more sustainable.
Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has also extended P900,000 to overseas Filipino workers and their dependents under various programs, namely the Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! program, Education for Development Scholarship Program and Project Alalay sa Pag-aaral para sa mga Anak-OFWs sa Panahon ng Pandemya.