CAMIGUIN, Sep. 23 (PIA)--With over 80 percent of barangays in Ibajay, Aklan affected with the declaration of community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 contagion, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assures aid to the tourism sector either through immediate cash assistance or 10-day work with minimum wage.

"Gusto kong iparating sa inyo na nakahanda kaming tumulong sa mga manggagawa sa Boracay. Nag-usap kami ni Secretary Puyat ng Department of Tourism in handling ng implementation ng cash assistance ng tourism workers," DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello said during the Network Briefing News with Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar, September 23.

(I would like to inform you that we are ready to help the workers of Boracay. I have talked with Secretary Puyat of the Department of Tourism and she asked me to handle the implementation of cash assistance for tourism workers)

Ibajay, Aklan Mayor Jose Enrique Miraflores said such will really help the area since 80 percent of the barangays are affected by the pandemic while most of their residents are having their jobs in Boracay.

The mayor added that Boracay will be opened for tourism by October this year. He said with the assistance of the national government to aid the displaced workers and opening up of Boracay, Aklan will not be the only that will prosper but the whole nation as well.

For the informal sector, Bello said Miraflores will just have to send 500 names to DOLE so the latter can provide immediate cash assistance through a 10-day cash for work.

"Meron ding tayong programa para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho. Bibigyan natin sila ng preference; mag-submit lang ng pangalan ng workers and we will provide them with financial assistance. Bibigyan natin sila ng cash assistance agad-agad," Bello added.

(We also have a program for displaced workers. We will give them preference; the local government unit will just have to submit the names of the workers and we will provide them with financial assistance. We will give them the cash assistance immediately)

The secretary also urged Miraflores to inform displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that DOLE provides a livelihood program so they will no longer need to find jobs and just run their own businesses. About P5 billion has been granted by the national government to aid the displaced OFWs.

Bello added that children of OFWs can also become scholars of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Tourism in Camiguin

The Provincial Government of Camiguin issued Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-107 or the ordinance prescribing for 75 percent accommodation capacity for all hotels, dine-in restaurants and other accommodation establishments while the province continues to be under modified general community quarantine.

The LGU also spearheaded the rehabilitation and decontamination of all tourist spots and resorts in the province to further aid their tourism workers.

As of September 22, there are no longer COVID-19 confirmed cases in the province. (RTP/PIA10)