PANUKALA NI REVILLA NA MAPAGAAN ANG KALAGAYAN NG MGA OFW NA APEKTADO NG COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SUPORTADO NG DOLE

NAGPAHAYAG ng suporta si Secretary Silvestre Bello ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa panukalang batas (S. No. 801) na isinumite ni Senador Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. na naglalayong makapagbigay ng credit assistance program para sa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) na apektado ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Sa gitna ng senate committee hearing on labor, employment and human resources development, Sinabi ni Bello kay Revilla na ang Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ay may sapat na pondo na umaabot sa mahigit sa P18 bilyon na maaaring italaga para sa pinansiyal at iba pang klase ng tulong para sa mga apektadong OFW, basta’t magbuo lamang ang Senado ng parameters para sa loan application.

Kasunod nito ay hiningi ni Revilla kay Sec. Bello ang update sa DOLE’s on-going programs para sa displaced OFWs, kabilang ang re-integration program at livelihood assistance.

Kaugnay nito ay pinuri ni Revilla ang labor department dahil sa pagbibigay nito ng cash assistance na $200 bawat isa sa 302,000 apektadong OFWs, at sa pagsagot sa gastos sa ospital ng may 1, 953 nahawang OFWs.

Sinamantala rin ni Bello ang pagkakataon na mailinaw kay Revilla na ang napaulat na 7.3 milyong walang trabahong Pilipino ay resulta lamang ng survey na isinagawa ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), at hindi ang tunay na actual unemployment rate sa bansa.

Mula Enero hanggang Hunyo ng taong kasalukuyan, ayon sa datos ng DOLE ay umabot na sa 90,000 displaced workers dahil sa temporary closure ng 2,122 business establishments at permanent closure ng 169 establishments.

Natuwa naman si Revilla nang mabatid nitong ang DOLE ay nagsumite ng proposal para sa wage subsidy program na naglalayong matugunan ang financial assistance para sa mga apektadong negosyo at ang DOLE na ang magbibigay ng 25-50 porsiyento ng suweldo ng kanilang mga empleyado para hindi na magtanggal at magtuluy-tuloy na ang operasyon.

“Yan po ang maganda nating mapag-aralan mapaghandaan dahil sa dami ng mawawalan ng trabaho lalo na’t mag-uuwian yung ibang OFW. I know, Secretary, that you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work, nasa likuran mo lang kami,” suprota naman ni Revilla.

DOLE supports Sen. Revilla's S. No. 801 to ease plight of OFWs affected by COVID-19 pandemic

Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello on Wednesday expressed the full support of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for S. No. 801 filed by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. which seeks to provide a credit assistance program for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the senate committee hearing on labor, employment and human resources development, Bello told Revilla that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has stable funds amounting to more than P 18 billion which can be allocated for financial and other forms of assistance to as many affected OFWs as possible, provided that the senate will create the parameters for loan application.

Revilla also asked Sec. Bello for an update on DOLE's on-going programs for displaced OFWs, including the re-integration program and livelihood assistance.

The veteran senator further commended the labor department for extending cash assistance of $ 200 to each of the 302,000 affected OFWs, and for shouldering the hospital expenses of 1, 953 infected OFWs.

Bello also took the opportunity to clarify to Revilla that the reported 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos is only the result of a survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and does not represent the actual unemployment rate in the country.

From January to June this year, DOLE records state that there are 90,000 displaced workers due to the temporary closure of 2,122 business establishments and permanent closure of 169 establishments.

Bong Revilla was elated to know that DOLE has submitted a proposal for a wage subsidy program which intends to extend financial assistance for affected business establishments by providing 25-50 percent of their workers' salary so they no longer need to terminate employees to sustain operations.

"Yan po ang maganda nating mapag-aralan mapaghandaan dahil sa dami ng mawawalan ng trabaho lalo na't mag-uuwian yung ibang OFW. I know, Secretary, that you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work, nasa likuran mo lang kami," Revilla said.