COTABATO CITY -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OWWA-ARMM) is now finalizing the list of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families affected by the Marawi siege who are to receive assistance from the government.
Some 3,500 OFWs and their families are set to benefit from a financial assistance from the government through OWWA-ARMM, according to Odin Abdullah, OWWA-ARMM chief program and services division officer.
Abdullah said active OWWA members or those with active membership would receive PhP10,000 cash assistance; while inactive members with expired membership would be given PhP5,000 each.
Abdullah said if an OWWA-member OFW was not in the country now, his or her immediate family must secure a special power of attorney to prove that the receiving party was a legitimate OFW family member.
Abdullah said his office was validating the list earlier submitted by village officials from Marawi City.
Beneficiaries will come from the villages of Tolali, Daguduban, Nubonga Madaya, South Madaya, Norhaya Village, Lilod Madaya, Banggolo, Raya Madaya 1, Raya Madaya 2, Lumbaca Madaya, Sabala Manao 1, Sabala Manao Proper, Dansalan, Datu A Dansalan, Sangcay Dansalan, Datu Naga, Marinaut East, Wawalayan, Marinaut, Kapantaran, Moncado Kadingilan and Moncado Colony.
Local officials submitted around 7,000 people for the OWWA financial aid but Abdullah said after verification, recipients were trimmed down to some 3,500.
Abdullah said his office was ensuring that only rightful beneficiaries would get the assistance so as not to defeat the purpose of the OWWA financial aid program. (PNA)
