Due to the suspension of work and cancellation of events, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) disclosed that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the Filipino Audio-Visual industry to suffer.
Most Audio-Visual (AV) industry workers, including freelancers, talents, production staff and technical crew members who get paid on a “per day” basis have no work during the COVID-19 situation.
In support of AV workers who have been displaced by the lockdown in Luzon, the FDCP launched the Disaster/Emergency Assistance and Relief (DEAR) Program to aid its stakeholders during calamities and major disasters.
“Under the DEAR Program, the targeted support program DEAR for Displaced Freelance AV Workers will provide financial assistance to disaster-affected freelance AV workers who suddenly lost work as a direct result of a major disaster,” the FDCP said.
Those qualified for the program are AV workers who have suddenly become unemployed for at least seven working days as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation. Workers whose applications have been approved will receive cash assistance of P8,000.
The FDCP assured that the newly established program will not be limited to COVID-19 related cases but for future disasters as well.
“The FDCP DEAR Program is not a one-off initiative. Though this was inspired by the COVID-19 crisis, we want to learn from this and make sure that the agency is better prepared in handling such cases in the future. As a permanent program of the FDCP, this disaster fund will be activated every time there is an emergency and a State of Calamity declared by the President,” FDCP chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra said.
DEAR Program and Qualifications and Application process can be found on FDCP’s website.
