Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who were affected by the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will finally be able to get cash aid from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
In a statement, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said President Rodrigo R. Duterte finally approved the P1.5 billion for OWWA’s Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program.
“This assistance program is good until the available funds are used up,” the concurrent OWWA board of trustees head said.
Under AKAP, OWWA give P10,000 cash aid to 70,000 target OFW beneficiaries.
The program can be availed by OFWs, who have been infected by the Covid-19, but have not received any form of financial assistance from their host government or foreign employer; and those displaced by a Covid-19 lockdown imposed by the governments in their places of work.
Bello said he already issued the guidelines for the AKAP, which will cover documented OFWs and undocumented ones as long as they have “undertaken” actions toward regularization or they are active members of OWWA.
He said they have already started processing the AKAP applications of OFWs from Covid-hit countries in the Middle East and Africa, Europe and the Americas and Asia.
To avail of the program “on-site” OFWs must submit the following documents to their respective POLO:
a. Accomplished application form for the special cash assistance which is downloadable at their respective POLO website or social media account;
b. Photocopy of their passport and/or travel documents;
c. Proof of overseas employment, such as a valid OEC, residence ID, visa, reentry-visa etc.
d. Proof of loss of employment on account of the COVID-19 disease; and
e. Proof of a pending case that have caused their current “undocumented status, such as case reference number, case endorsement stamped by the POLO, etc.
Balik Manggagawa, or repatriated OFWs must submit the following documents to their respective regional or local OWWA offices:
a. Accomplished application form for special cash assistance downloadable at www.dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph website;
b. Copy of passport or travel documents;
c. Proof of overseas employment, sch as valid OEC, residence ID, visa/re-entry visa, etc. and
d. Proof of loss of employment due to the COVID-19 disease.
Image credits: Roy Domingo
3 comments
im stranded ofw since march10 waiting for schedule og fligth but lockdown come
hi my flight was on March 14, 2020 , im stranded also.
Financials assistant