The NCR regional office of the labor department today clarified that the emergency employment it is providing in the city of Manila involves the sanitation and disinfection of public places and communities.
DOLE NCR regional director Sarah Buena Mirasol made the clarification following reports that DOLE will pay 189 e-trike drivers who will ferry frontline workers to and from their workplaces.
“While we confirm that the emergency employment program will benefit e-trike drivers of Manila, their work however will be done in their respective barangays to disinfect their residences and public places. They will perform this job with strict adherence to social distancing,” Mirasol said.
Mirasol said the employment is under the Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (BKBK) work scheme of DOLE’s Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program. BKBK is a special work scheme devised to help informal sector workers that conforms with the social distancing protocol to address the spread of COVID 19.
The DOLE NCR chief also said funds are already available for the emergency employment scheme. — ROSALIE COZ
