DOLE: Over 1-M Filipino workers displaced due to COVID-19

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that over 1 million Filipino workers have been displaced due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
The Labor Department on Sunday (April 12) reported that 1,048,649 workers in the formal sector were affected after several establishments had to temporarily close down while others implement flexible work arrangements due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
DOLE reported that Metro Manila has the highest displacement numbers with 246,810 affected workers. Central Luzon followed with 179,875 workers, and Calabarzon listed third with 99,178 affected workers.
The government already allotted P1.6 billion financial assistance through DOLE. However, it will only be enough for over 300,000 workers.
Due to this, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is calling on big time private companies to assist their employees who are unable to work due to the ECQ.
Based on the latest DOLE report, only around 200,000 workers have received the financial assistance from the special amelioration program. AAC (with reports from Joan Nano)