AID FOR DISPLACED OFWs. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday (June 17, 2020) says he will ask for more budget to aid displaced overseas Filipino workers. Bello, along with Capiz Governor Esteban Contreras, was a guest at the Laging Handa network briefing. (Photo courtesy of Laging Handa Network Briefing)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will request an additional budget to provide cash aid to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
During the "Laging Handa" network briefing on Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they will ask President Rodrigo Duterte for additional PHP1-billion to PHP1.5-billion next week.
He said the DOLE has received 500,000 applications for cash aid amounting to USD200 each for the displaced OFWs.
"President Duterte gave us PHP1.5 billion. With more applications for assistance, we asked for additional PHP1 billion. We have a total of PHP2.5-billion for OFWs and so far, we have disbursed PHP1.7-billion to 170, 000 OFWs," he said in Filipino, adding the department is left with PHP800-million.
To date, he said the DOLE has recorded a total of 88, 346 stranded OFWs, 19, 591 of whom have been repatriated.
Capiz Governor Esteban Contreras, also a guest at the network briefing, asked Bello to help the repatriated Capizeño OFWs.
Bello said the DOLE has arranged a swift process for repatriation.
He said before the OFWs leave their country of origin, the Inter-Agency Task Force will be given a five-day notice so that they will be swabbed immediately when they arrive in the country.
They will be sent home once they bear negative Covid-19 test results, Bello added. The local government units will be informed before the repatriation of their OFWs for them to make preparations.
Bello has assured Contreras that OFWs in Capiz province will receive financial assistance from DOLE.
He asked Contreras to submit the names of displaced workers who have yet to receive the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. (PNA)
