5,000 Pesos Assistance for Workers under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP)

The COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) is a safety net program, available nationwide, that offers financial support to affected workers in private establishments that have adopted flexible work arrangements or temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CAMP shall be effective on 21 March 2020, but applied retroactively from January 2020. [Added: This is now part of the social amelioration programs under the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1; see List of Social Amelioration Programs and Non-Duplication of SBWS, CAMP and SAP].

[Update: In an Official Statement dated 16 April 2020, the DOLE announced that, effective 5:00 p.m. of 15 April 2020, it has ceased to accept online applications for the CAMP financial assistance. The DOLE asked for understanding from those who already submitted their applications, as the total amount ballooned beyond the capacity of its resources. However, see the P5,000-P8,000 wage subsidy through the Small Business Wage Subsidy Program (SBWS), with applications open only until 30 April 2020.]

The financial assistance is a one-time payment of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000) in lump sum, non-conditional, regardless of employment status. The application is filed by the employer, but the financial assistance is released directly to the employee (though the employee’s payroll bank account or through money remittance).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must be a private establishments that have implemented flexible work arrangements or temporary closure under Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Labor Advisory No. 09. Employers are free to craft flexible work arrangements upon compliance with certain requirements, although the examples provided are reduction of workhours/workdays, rotation of workers, forced leave (see DOLE Labor Advisory No. 09). Government employees are excluded from the program.

The financial program covers Affected Workers, regardless of status (i., permanent, probationary, or contractual). Affected Workers are those employed in private establishments whose operations are affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CAMP covers workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic from its onset in January 2020 until the lifting of the community quarantine on 14 April 2020, unless extended. For others who are underemployed, self-employed and displaced marginalized workers, see Assistance for Displaced / Disadvantaged Workers under the DOLE TUPAD Program. For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), see P10,000 for Overseas Filipino Workers under DOLE-AKAP for OFWs.

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Affected establishment must submit the following:

A. Revised Establishment Report Form (ERF), particularly the indicated mandatory fields.

[Click here to see the Establishment Report on COVID-19 (ERF), attached to DO 12, as well as the Directory for the Online Submission of CAMP Documentary Requirements]

B. Company payroll for the month prior the implementation of FWAs or temporary closure.

In case of non-availability of payroll, affected establishments may submit any of the following (per DOLE Labor Advisory No. 12-A dated 6 April 2020):

  • 1. workers pay slip/ verifiable handwritten pay slip;
  • 2. proof of payment of wages via logbook or ledger
  • 3. employment contract;
  • 4. cash voucher or petty cash voucher;
  • 5. authority to debit account sent by employer to bank for the wage of employees;
  • 6. SSS, Philhealth and Pag-IBIG Alphalist or list of remittances;
  • 7. BIR Form 2316; or
  • 8. list of employees with 13th month pay.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1. Applications with complete documentary requirements shall be submitted online to the appropriate DOLE Regional Office or any of its Provincial / Field Offices.

2. Applications shall be evaluated by the concerned DOLE Regional Office within three (3) working days from receipt thereof.

3. A Notice of Approval, for an approved application; or, a Notice of Denial for a denied application shall be issued to the applicant by the concerned DOLE Regional Office within three (3) working days through electronic mail from the date thereof.  

An application may be denied for any of the following reasons: (a) ineligibility of applicant; (b) misrepresentation of facts in the application; or (c) submission of falsified or tampered document. 

Payment

The concerned DOLE Regional Office shall issue the financial support directly to the beneficiary’s payroll account through bank transfer at the soonest possible time upon receipt of complete documentary requirements. For cash payroll, financial support shall be received through money remittance. Upon receipt of financial support, a Notice of Completion shall be issued to the affected establishment within three (3) working days through electronic mail.

Department Order No. 209, series of 2020, dated 17 March 2020 (“Guidelines on the Adjustment Measures Program for Affected Workers Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019”) was issued by the DOLE to help address the issues brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the Philippines. The DOLE clarified the provisions of D.O. 9 through Labor Advisory No. 12 dated 18 March 2020.

Department Order No. 09 not only covers the one-time time financial assistance, but also the provision of available job opportunities suitable to the affected employee’s qualifications through job matching, referral and placement services either for local or overseas employment, employment coaching, and labor market information. 

The DOLE emphasized that the outbreak of COVID-19 constitutes an emergency that threatens public health and national security which requires a whole-of-government response including the implementation of urgent and critical measures to mitigate its effects and impact to the community, and prevent serious disruption of the functioning of government and the community. 

[See: Social Amelioration Programs for the Community Quarantine by Reason of COVID-19; Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) during the Community Quarantine); Target Beneficiaries of the Government Social Amelioration Program for COVID-19; Documentary Requirements to Avail of Government Social Amelioration Programs for COVID-19]

P&L Law

42 thoughts on “5,000 Pesos Assistance for Workers under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP)

  1. M.A. Yu

    I am an owner of a food kiosk inside a mall, due to the quarantine my food kiosk can’t operate so my employees is currently under work suspension. My question is can my company apply for the dole camp if the salary of my staff is given to them cash basis every 15th and 30th of the month since they do not have a personal bank account.
    The dole guideline only states that they will deposit the 5000 directly to the employees bank account once application is approved.

    Reply
    1. pnl

      The DOLE issued a clarification, allowing the release of cash directly to the employee (if no payroll account). Please revisit the post. Wishing you the best in this difficult time.

    2. MPG

      Our HR PIC still wanted to file and avail although we are working from home and receiving our full salaries. I am excluding myself. As I understand only those whos salaries had been reduced / totally no salaries are qualified to avail.

    3. pnl

      Hi MPG, you are correct. It’s good to hear stories of people making sure that the aid goes to others who need it more. Mabuhay po kayo!

    4. Nhel

      I am Taxi operator I’d like to avail the cash assistance to help my taxi drivers. What to submit as an alternative if you can’t provide payroll.?

    5. pnl

      Hi Nhel, the regulations don’t say what the alternatives are. Please check directly with the DOLE, perhaps they can give you alternatives. Good luck.

      Added: The DOLE clarified that pay slips will do if there’s no payroll.

  2. Maria Clara Lagradilla

    Maam/Sir included po ba ang mga tricyle driver dito sa 5k ninyo na ipamimigay?ano naman ang mga gagawin kung wala ang employer kasi nasa ibang bansa?salamat

    Reply
  3. JOVEN ORDONO GRINO

    Im a new hire seafarer of career shipmanagement and because of luzon lockdown my schedule for joining on last march 22 2020 was canceled and almost 4 months no salary and im still paying my LRP sss and currently recieve my pag ibig salary loan last february and now no more chance to have money can i have the rights to recieve this 5000php from dole to aplly disenfectant for my house

    Reply
    1. pnl

      This program is limited to those employed by a Philippine-based company, with alternative work arrangements. Perhaps there are other programs from DOLE or SSS, please check with them. Good luck.

  4. Maria Teresa Deparene

    I work in a private clinic since due to enhance community quarantine we stop . Wala po akong income. Pwede po ba akong mag apply sa sinasabi nyong 5k financial assistance at Kung pwede po paano po makakaapply. Thank you po!

    Reply
    1. pnl

      The application is made through the clinic. The DOLE clarified that if the employer refuses/fails to file the application, the employee can give the details of the employer so the DOLE can contact them. Good luck.

    1. pnl

      So long as the receptionist meets the “Eligibility Requirements,” he/she should be entitled to it. Basically, it must be a private company which as implemented flexible work arrangements due to covid-19 .The “Eligibility Requirements” are discussed in the post. Good luck.

  5. Mav Ado

    What if we are private sector workers but our daily wage is below the minimum ?
    Let’s just say we are in region 4 and the minimum wage here is 414 per day
    But we our just earning 350 per day

    Reply
    1. pnl

      Per the rules, the CAMP is available regardless of status or wage rate. The issue on minimum wage can always be sorted out later. Good luck.

  6. Annika

    Hi, we have a senior citizen and a tricycle driver, are they covered by CAMP? and if so, do they need to file in the same process as you’ve mentioned on the blog?

    Reply
  7. Levie

    Hello gud am ask lang makakasama po ba mga angkas biker like me na ANGKAS BIKER magakaroon po ba kami ng 5k assistant or what ?? Ano po ang manyayari samin n nawalan din po kami ng trabaho dahil sa covid.19 ???

    Reply
    1. pnl

      That’s a tricky issue. The CAMP applies to those with employer-employee relations, regardless of status. Drivers in ridesharing services like Grab and Angkas are not considered employees and, therefore, may not qualify under the CAMP.

  8. Mark Ihalon

    Panu Po Ung Naka Leave Bago Mag Quarantine Makakasama Po Ba Sila Sa 5k
    Sabi Po Kasi Ng Employer
    Hindi Daw Po Kasama Kasi Naka Leave

    Reply
    1. pnl

      Ang 5,000 ay pwedeng matanggap ng “affected workers” o yung mga employado ng mga pribadong kumpanya na apektado ng COVID-19 pandemic (forced leave o ibang flexible work arrangements o temporary closure). Hindi naman ang kumpanya ang magbabayad kundi ang gobyerno. Baka may rason ang kumpanya, ngunit hayaan na lang siguro na ang DOLE ang mag-decide.

    2. Mark Ihalon

      Kumpanya Lang Po And Nag Decide Na Hindi Daw Po Aku Kasama
      Anu Po Ang Pede Kung Gawin

    3. pnl

      Sabi sa policy, pwedeng i-contact derecho ng empleyado ang DOLE at ang DOLE na ang ko-contact sa employer. Good luck.

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