SAP, CAMP beneficiaries eligible for Bayanihan 2

CORTES, Bohol, Dec. 8 (PIA) -- For a more inclusive financial aid to the displaced workers in the tourism sector, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued guidance in the implementaion of its P6,000 cash assistance program under Bayanihan To Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).

Under the DOT-DOLE Joint Memorandum Cicular No. 2020-001, beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) under Bayanihan 1 are now eligible for inclusion under the Bayanihan 2 financial assistance. 

"Pursuant to Section 4 (1) (2) of the Bayanihan 2, beneficiaries of SAP and CAMP under Bayanihan 1 are not precluded from receiving the unemployment of involuntary separation assistance under Bayanihan 2," states Joint Advisory No. 01, series of 2020, issued this December. 

The DOT-DOLE Joint Advisory also covers workers of affected establishments that implemented Flexible Working Arrangements (FWA) or Alternative Work Schemes (AWS) and employees of Local Government Unit-Licensed Secondary Tourism Enterprises.

The spirit of Bayanihan 2 is to be inclusive in coverage, hence, affected establishments under the tourism sector that implemented FWAs or AWS that resulted in a decrease or loss of regular income or wages from its employees for the duration of the community quarantine may apply for their workers' financial assistance, the DOT-DOLE guidance stated in the advisory.

As defined under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9593, LGU licensed secondary tourism enterprises (STEs) that implemented permanent closure or as a mitigating measure, have implemented retrenchment, temporary closure or FWAS, AWS may apply for their employees’ financial assistance.

These are in addition to the tourism enterprises under section 3(a) of DOT-DOLE JMC No. 001.

For workers affected by their establishments' adoption of FWAs or AWS, any documentary proof of the implementation of the FWAs or AWS such as company notices or announcements, time records or pay slips shall serve as the required documents for the application.

For STEs that have temporarilly closed or temporarilly laid off its workers or have implemented FWAs or AWS, they must submit their payroll or any of the documents stated in DOLE Labor Advisory No. 12, series of 2020.

STEs that have permanently closed must have filed its Notice of Closure to the LGU, which must have it stamped as another proof in the application.

Other than the P6,000 cash assistance, the Joint Advisory No. 01 also clarified the guidelines in the issuance of training vouchers to qualified tour guides who have received financial assistance.

Earlier, many believed the grant of the financial assistance to tour guides can only come when they undergo the training as provided in the training voucher.

DOT shall issue a training voucher to endorsed tour guide associations or groups for the conduct of a relevant training for its qualified members not later than June 30, 2021, with the training expenses chargeable against DOT general appropraitions fund.

On this, DOLE has put up priorities for assistance in the Bayanihan CAMP 2 cash aid as the said eligible beneficiaries could get their share after those applicants from CAMP 1 who have not been served, would have received their aid, plus those who applied under CAMP Bayanihan 2. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

LOCALLY LICENSED COMMUNITY TOUR GUIDES at the Cambuhat River Village Tours who were sidelined after the community quarantine caused by COVID-19 could benefit from the P6,000 DOLE DOT Assistance even if they are SAP beneficiaries, with the new guidelines issued jointly by both agencies. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol file photo) 

SIDELINED BUSINESS. Motorized pumpboats offering a tour for tourists who do not want to get on the floating resturants are momentarilly tied to their berths along Loboc River with the pandemic severely affecting the industry. But the government has packaged a financial aid for tourism workers in the secondary tourism establishments licensed by the local governments. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)