LABOR Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III sought an a P2-billion allocation from President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Budget and Management for cash assistance to workers affected by the two-week hard lockdown in the National Capital Region.

Bello said they requested for additional funding since the Department of Labor and Employment has already used up all of the funds for its COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program provided under the Bayanihan 2 Law.

“Humingi kami kay Pangulong Duterte at sa DBM, humirit kami ng P2 billion kasi ang estimated natin ay maapektuhan 300 to 400 workers, sila ang nawalan ng trabaho o mabawsan ng trabaho dito sa loob ng dalawang linggong Enhanced Community Quarantine,” he said.

CAMP seeks to provide one-time financial support to affected workers in the formal sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the budget request is still on the process of approval, the labor chief said he would check funds from other DOLE projects and programs that may be realigned.

Bello also said they would consider giving cash aid to affected workers in Laguna, which is also under the strictest quarantine classification.

Metro Manila is under ECQ from August 6 to 20, in a bid to slow down the transmission of the Delta coronavirus variant in the country.

In a related development, Bello said employees cannot be forced to get vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that the “no vaccine, no work policy” being spread over social media is fake information.

“Unang-una, hindi mo pwede pilitin ang isang tao na magpabakuna. Bawal ‘yan. Hindi mo pwedeng pilitin, hindi mo pwedeng gamitin ang policy na hindi ka pwedeng magtrabaho pag wala kang bakuna. Bawal ‘yan,” the former Justice Secretary said.

“Pangalawa, bakit mo pipilitin ang tao na magpabakuna e wala pa naman tayong sobrang supply ng bakuna?” he also pointed out.

However, while COVID-19 vaccines are not mandatory, Bello urged the public, as well as the workers in various sectors, to get vaccinated once the jabs are available.

The Department of Health earlier issued an advisory reminding employers that requiring COVID-19 vaccination among their workers is prohibited.

The Labor department’s Advisory No. 1 series of 2021 states that all employers can only encourage their workers to get COVID-19 jabs but they cannot require them to do so.

Under Republic Act No. 11525 or COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, vaccine cards are not considered as additional requirement for employment.