The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has provided nearly P18 million worth of livelihood packages to the informal sector workers in Quezon and Pampanga to cushion the impact of the ongoing pandemic.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III led the awarding of the DOLE assistance to beneficiaries in the two provinces.
In Lucena City, Quezon, minimum wage earners and displaced workers received some P1.5 million livelihood check for DOLE's Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program and Halik Multi-Purpose Cooperative for their biofuel project funded under the agency's Social Amelioration Welfare Program (SAWP).
The Department also provided 100 bikes under its Freebis program for mobile vendors; nine individual projects for the beneficiaries of Mission RACE; 11 individual projects; five certificates of eligibility for 20 motorized boats to five fisherfolk organizations; and wages for 480 Government Internship Program (GIP) interns.
Bello conferred the Safety Seals certification to several companies in Quezon Province for complying with the government's minimum public health standards.
These include the Pearl Energy Philippines Operating Inc. in Mauban; Pacific Royal Basic Foods, Inc. in Candelaria; Integrated Synergy Construction Corporation in Atimonan; and Liquigaz Philippines Corporation in Sariaya.
In his speech during the program, Bello told the beneficiaries that they are not indebted to the government because the funds used for their programs are people's money.
He also reminded them to take care of their livelihoods and use their money wisely.
"Ang gusto ko lang hingin sa inyo ‘yung trabaho ninyo alagaan ninyo. Gamitin niyo sa kailangan ng pamilya ninyo (I just want you to take good care of your work and use your money for your family's needs)," Bello said.
In Candaba, Pampanga, Bello awarded the P6.9 million salaries for displaced workers under DOLE's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
Along with this emergency assistance, the labor chief also awarded P3 million worth of Nego-Kart or Negosyo sa Kariton for ambulant vendors, and smartphones for the improvement of the beneficiaries' livelihood activities amid the pandemic.