By Marie Tonette Marticio TACLOBAN City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 8 will provide financial assistance to private sector workers who are being adversely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Department Order No. 209, signed by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III on March 17, 2020,  promulgates the guidelines for the implementation of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP). It is a safety net program that offers financial support to affected workers in private establishments that have adopted Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) or temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under CAMP, DOLE would provide a one-time financial aid equivalent to P5,000 to affected workers in a lump sum, non-conditional, and regardless of employment status. DOLE 8 regional director Yahya Centi informed that CAMP was one of the department’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. "Through this program, we hope to bring relief to our private sector workers and eventually mitigate the immediate adverse economic impacts," Centi said. In order to avail of this assistance, affected establishments should submit to DOLE online their applications with complete documentary requirements, as follows: (a) Establishment Report on the COVID-19 pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 9, Series of 2020; and (b) Company Payroll for the month prior the implementation of FWAs or temporary closure. Centi clarified that the assistance was not granted outright, and that applications will still go through an evaluation and validation process. “We want to emphasize that availing of the program is not automatic, therefore there is a need for our private employers to apply and submit complete requirements. After that our team will evaluate and do the necessary actions,” Centi added. D.O. 209 provides that all applications received with complete requirements will be evaluated and may be denied by the DOLE regional director for any of the following grounds: (a) ineligibility of the applicant; (b) misrepresentation of facts in the application; and (c) submission of falsified or tampered document. Centi added that they would be taking steps in order to implement the program the soonest possible time.