THE provincial government of Camiguin is further easing restrictions in their areas after it issued an ordinance allowing all hotels in the province to increase accommodation capacity.

Through Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-107, prescribed for 75 percent accommodation capacity for all hotels, dine-in restaurants and other accommodation establishments.

The province of Camiguin continues to be under modified general community quarantine.

Meanwhile, Secretary Silvestre Bello III today said the agency is planning to implement some of its financial programs particularly to the tourism sectors affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) scare.

Bello said during the Network Briefing News with Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar even assured aid to tourism workers in Boracay either through immediate cash assistance or 10-day work with minimum wage.

"Gusto kong iparating sa inyo na nakahanda kaming tumulong sa mga manggagawa sa Boracay. Nag-usap kami ni Secretary Puyat ng Department of Tourism in handling ng implementation ng cash assistance ng tourism workers," Bello said.

As reported, under Bayanihan 2, the Dole regional office 10 has an allocation specifically for those under the tourism Industry.

Dole-10 has not yet issued breakdown of the said budget for northern Mindanao.

Ibajay, Aklan Mayor Jose Enrique Miraflores said such will really help the area since 80 percent of the barangays are affected by the pandemic while most of their residents are having their jobs in Boracay.

The mayor added that Boracay will be opened for tourism by October this year. 

He said with the assistance of the national government to aid the displaced workers and opening up of Boracay, Aklan will not be the only that will prosper but the whole nation as well.

For the informal sector, Bello said Miraflores will just have to send 500 names to DOLE so the latter can provide immediate cash assistance through a 10-day cash for work.

"Meron ding tayong programa para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho," Bello said adding the local government unit will just have to submit the names of the workers and the department will provide them with financial assistance. 

"We will give them the cash assistance immediately," said Bello.

He said Dole also has a program for displaced workers. We will give them preference.

The secretary also urged Miraflores to inform displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that DOLE provides a livelihood program so they will no longer need to find jobs and just run their own businesses.

About P5 billion has been granted by the national government to aid the displaced OFWs, according to Bello.

Bello added that children of OFWs can also become scholars of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). (Recthie Tolinero/PIA10)