ECC executive director Stella Banawis (Screengrab from Laging Handa briefing)
MANILA – A total of 24,000 workers have benefitted from the one-time coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cash assistance provided by the government, the Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) said on Thursday.
“Only 24,000 workers have (received) the aid so far but we know that there are more workers affected with Covid-19,” ECC executive director Stella Banawis said in a Laging Handa briefing.
The one-time Covid-19 cash aid is worth PHP10,000.
Banawis, meanwhile, said they have yet to pay an additional 14,000 workers who are eligible for the assistance.
“We are waiting for the budget for about 14,000 more beneficiaries. We are looking at paying them online. No more use of checks,” she said in Filipino.
Banawis added that they are reviewing a proposal to raise the cash benefit from PHP10,000 to PHP30,000.
“What happened there was not approved by the last administration so we will review it now. There are many factors to look at. The severity of Covid-19 as well as the status of our vaccination program so all of these are being looked at and if the new administration will allow the proposed increase,” the ECC head added.
Workers from both the public and private sectors are covered by the assistance program.
Government employees may apply for the assistance through the Government Service Insurance System while private sector workers may file their claims through the Social Security System. (PNA)
