ONLY 5.9 percent of the P1-billion allocation for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) rebate program has been released since the project was launched two months ago.
In an interview, OWWA Administrator Hans J. Cacdac said they were able to release P59,456,149 of the allocated P1 billion for the first batch of the rebate beneficiaries, numbering nearly 23,000.
Cacdac noted they still have 6,036 OWWA members who have yet to avail of their rebate benefits this year.
“They are probably waiting to go home to avail of their rebates,” Cacdac said. “We will continue with the distribution. We have no deadline for this.”
The amount of the rebate range from P941.25 up to P13,177.50, depending on their number of contributions.
Out of the 23,000 beneficiaries, 200 opted to donate their rebate to OWWA’s selected scholars.
“We have a list of scholars, who they could allocate their rebate benefits,” Cacdac said.
He urged other beneficiaries to also consider donating rebate to other scholars.
To qualify for the said rebate program under Republic Act 10801 or the OWWA Act, an overseas Filipino worker must have been a member of OWWA for at least 10 years and have not availed of any benefit from the agency.