ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Labor-9 (DOLE-9) announced that it has released some PHP19 million financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Lawyer Roy Buenafe, DOLE-9 director, said Thursday the financial assistance was released through the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of DOLE.
Buenafe said a total of 1,900 Covid-19 displaced OFWs have benefited from AKAP and each received PHP10,000 cash assistance.
Buenafe said the DOLE central office has allocated a budget of PHP35.9 million for the AKAP in the region.
He said AKAP covers regular or documented OFWs with a valid passport and appropriate visa or permit to stay and work in the receiving country; qualified undocumented OFWs who were originally regular or documented workers but for some reason or cause have thereafter lost their regular or documented status; and, Balik-Manggagawa who are unable to return to their host country in view of host country’s lockdown due to Covid-19.
He said the financial assistance was released to the qualified recipients through DOLE’s partner money remittance center.
Meanwhile, he said land-based and sea-based OFWs displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic may still apply for financial assistance until the end of this year.
They may apply online and upload the following documents: copy of passport or travel document; copy of flight ticket or boarding pass evidencing return to the Philippines or arrival stamp/sticker attached in the passport; proof of overseas employment i.e. valid verified overseas employment, OEC, residence I.D.s, visa/re-entry visa, among others or permit to stay in the receiving country; and, proof of loss of employment on account of Covid-19 or proof that the host country/ies are included in the list of those heavily affected by the Covid-19. (PNA)
