City of San Fernando, PAMPANGA, March 1, 2022 - The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. III released a total of P8.35 million to 1,670 affected workers in Central Luzon. Under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) 3, workers and individuals in the private sector who were affected by the declaration of Alert Level 3 received a one-time financial assistance of P5,000.

According to Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio, DOLE-III alone has received applications from more than 700 establishments covering 15,000 employees. “We have anticipated this number of applications and understand the needs of our fellow Filipinos during this time. This is why we did our best to expedite disbursement,” RD Panlilio said. “As of now, we have completed and paid the first batch of beneficiaries,” she added. 

Mariles Ruiz, representative of Martinet School, Inc. in Tarlac, commended the ‘fast and easy’ processing of their application. “Honestly speaking, madali at mabilis ang process ngayon compared nung unang CAMP. Tuwang-tuwa sila sa nag-assist sa amin at na-approve ito agad,” Mariles exclaimed. [The processing was faster and easier compared to before. We are very happy for the assistance provided and we’re approved in no time.]

“We are so grateful for this opportunity. This is a great help for us and our families especially to our teachers,” she added. 

711 beneficiaries in Region 3 are from Bulacan while 587 are from Pampanga. Other beneficiaries are from Zambales (180), Tarlac (127), Nueva Ecija (57) and Bataan (8). 

As of March 1, only 57 out of the 1,670 beneficiaries are yet to claim their financial assistance.

Bulacan was declared under Alert Level 3 effective January 4 while Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales were placed under the same alert level on January 9. Tarlac and Nueva Ecija followed suit on January 14, 2 days earlier than the province of Aurora which was under Alert Level 3 by January 16. 

All provinces in Central Luzon are now under the more lenient Alert Level 1 except for Nueva Ecija and Zambales which are under Alert Level 2 until March 15. ##

END/ A. Cunanan