Labor sector hails P5K cash aid for ‘near poor’ workers

THE plan to provide a one-time P5,000 financial assistance to “near poor” workers next year yesterday received strong backing from the labor sector and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a phone interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said they are in support of the provision of the subsidy to workers who receive a monthly salary of P23,000 or less.

“Off the cap, any plan that will alleviate the plight of the workers and their families is worthy of serious consideration and support,” said Laguesma.

Aside from Laguesma, labor leaders have also expressed support for the program that will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“That’s a good plan and we support it. This will be helpful to workers that are having difficulties in coping with the high cost of living,” said Partido Manggagawa (PM) chairperson Rene Magtubo.

“Any effort to survive the inability of workers’ take-home pay to cope with the ever increasing impact of inflation is welcome,” said Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairman Elmer Labog.

Under the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024, the Ayuda sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP) of the DSWD shall provide a one-time P5,000 financial assistance to all “near poor” workers.

Considered as workers that are “near poor” are those who receive a monthly pay of P23,000 or less, such as construction workers, drivers, factory workers and other blue-collar workers.

The AKAP financial aid will be on top of the assistance received by the poorest of the poor under the government’s flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), or the conditional cash transfer program.

The program targets an estimated 12 million households as beneficiaries.

Labog, however, stressed that having the one-time aid does not mean that workers won’t need to have their salaries raised anymore.

“Workers’ income should immediately be augmented with a substantial wage hike as the measly wage adjustments are not sufficient to save workers, in general, against the ever-increasing quicksand of poverty,” said Labog.