DOT, DOLE to provide cash aid to COVID-hit tourism enterprises

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Today, Dec 9, 2020, is the last day for establishments and workers in the tourism industry in the region to submit requirements for the financial assistance to be granted by a partnership of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The aid part of the economic relief granted through Republic Act No. 11494 (Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan II), which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last Sept. 11, in response to the economic effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In accordance with this, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2020-001 on Oct. 30, 2020.

The assistance was on top of the P167 million allocated by DOLE-6 for workers in other formal economy sectors.

Establishments that implemented flexible work arrangements (FWA) and alternate work schemes (AWS) are additional beneficiaries of this current program.

Beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP) of the DOLE under Rep. Act No. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One or Bayanihan I) are also additional beneficiaries.

The Financial Assistance and Cash-For-Work program by the two agencies is open to workers under Primary and Secondary Tourism Enterprises (PTEs/STEs), as well as Community-Based Tourism Organizations (CBTOs).

These also include PTEs licensed by Local Government Units (LGUs), even without regular or provisional accreditation from the DOT.

PTEs include accommodation establishments, travel and tour services, Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions providers, Ecotourism facilities and services, and tourism frontliners or tour guides.

Eligible PTEs for the aid program should be those with 2-year permits issued in 2018 and 2019, those with 1-year permits issued in 2019, or those with new regular or provisional accreditation issued before Aug. 31 of this year.

STEs are those eligible for DOT accreditation but not required to do so, such as health and wellness services, agricultural tourism (agri-tourism) sites, museums, galleries, restaurants, restrooms, and tourism training centers and trainers.

For STEs, those eligible include permits issued in 2019 and on or before Aug. 31 of this year, and those whose provisional accreditation was issued on Aug. 31 but was issued regular accreditation after that date.

They must submit the following requirements to the DOT Region 6 office:

– Payroll (or proof of payment of wages; employment contract cash or petty cash voucher; authority to debit account sent by employer to the bank; SSS; PhilHealth; and Pag-IBIG Alphalist; or list of employees with 13th month pay);

– Photocopy of DOT Accreditation Certificate (for DOT-accredited PTEs/STEs), or Certified true copy of the LGU-issued license or business permit (for non-accredited, LGU-licensed PTEs);

– Proof of unemployment of displaced tourism worker; and

– Any documentary proof of the implementation of FWA and AWS, such as company announcements or notices, time records, or pay slips.

For CBTOs, they must be registered with national government agencies (NGA) or an LGU as of Dec. 31, 2019.

CBTOs must submit a copy of a valid registration from the relevant NGA or LGU, and a list of active members certified by the organization’s or association’s head.

Eligible tour guides include those who are members of a tour guiding organization or association on or before Dec. 31, 2019, and either DOT-accredited or LGU-licensed not later than Aug. 31, 2020.

Non-members of organizations or associations may also be eligible but only for those who have had DOT accreditation not later than Aug. 31.

The requirements include:

– Copy of their registration certificate from an NGA or LGU;

– List of members that are DOT-accredited or LGU-licensed, as duly certified by the organization and the association head;

– Copy of Training Voucher issued by the DOT Regional Office; and

– Valid DOT Accreditation Number (for DOT-accredited tour guides), or valid LGU License (for LGU-licensed tour guides).

The financial assistance is valued at P5,000 per individual beneficiary under the CAMP.

The Cash-For-Work Program is an emergency employment program for Displaced Tourism Workers, who were either unemployed or lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic.

This is granted in accordance with the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program of the DOLE.

According to Section 12 of JMC 2020-001, the DOT Regional Office will be the one to determine whether CAMP or TUPAD will be assigned to the DTW.

Informal sector workers and other tourism industry workers which do not fall under the provisions of the JMC may be entitled under either the CAMP or TUPAD, subject to relevant provisions.

The required documents must be submitted by today, after which the DOT Region 6 will provide applicants with an endorsement number they must use to register to the DOLE’s portal (https://reports.dole.gov.ph), where the DOLE will evaluate the applications, and send notices of either approval or disapproval.

Assistance will be paid out through bank transfer or an electronic payment facility.

A total of P3 billion had been allocated for the program nationwide based on Rep. Act No. 11494.

DOLE Region 6 spokesperson Niezel Sabrido told Daily Guardian on Sunday that a total of P247 million had been allocated in the region specifically for this partnership.