The Department of Tourism (DOT) has approved a total of P2.8 billion for the cash payouts of more than 570,000 displaced workers, but admitted the financial assistance program may not be enough to cover all travel personnel affected by the pandemic.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced the DOT has approved a cash payout of P5,000 each for 571,919 displaced tourism workers. It is estimated that about P1.8 billion has been remitted and released to payment centers to benefit more than 367,000 grantees nationwide.
On the other hand, some P1.1 billion is pending for disbursement, and Puyat said this would be handed over to over 203,000 workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
In spite of the utilization, Puyat admitted the P3.1 billion allocation for a one time cash subsidy for affected tourism workers may not be enough to cover the needs of all affected workes in the tourism industry.
Under Bayanihan 2, a total of P3.1 billion was set aside to provide financial assistance to tourism workers who lost their jobs when the Philippines shut its borders to foreign travelers.
Likewise, domestic travel has yet to pick up pace, especially in Luzon, with Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces reverting to lockdown but with optimism especially since the IATF has announced a lighter quarantine classification for NCR Plus in preparation to open the economy and commerce.
With additional reports: The Philippine Star, Elijah Felice Rosales
Image Source: rappler.com, mb.com.ph, chos.ph
