The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday, March 30, that it is set to offer a 10-day job for thousands of individuals affected by the Taal Volcano’s eruption as a form of government assistance.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that Taal victims will earn P4,000 for 10 days of work given that the minimum wage in Region 4 or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) is P400.
“In line with the report of Secretary Año, there are 1,006 families involving 3,649 persons affected doon sa pag-aalburuto ni Taal Volcano (due to Taal Volcano’s eruption). So dahil dito, ang immediate response ng DOLE ay 'yung bibigyan sila ng trabaho for 10 days (DOLE’s immediate response is to provide affected individuals with 10 days of work),” Bello said during President Duterte’s “Talk to the People.”
Bello added that the agency has prepared P50 to P100 million budget for Taal victims, especially in municipalities of Agoncillo, Laurel, San Luis, Taal, Calaca, Calatagan, and Lemery.
Aside from the 10-day work, which he said is only temporary, the DOLE has also prepared livelihood assistance which has long-term benefits for individuals.
“Itong ayuda na ito ay temporary lang. We are also prepared to provide all those affected ng livelihood assistance which is more or less mas mahaba ang ano, ang generation sa ating mga kababayan (This aid is only temporary, but we also prepared livelihood assistance that will benefit the Taal victims in the long run),” Bello told Duterte.