The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has nearly “exhausted” funds for its cash aid program for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) affected by the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a statement, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III disclosed they already used P2.324 billion of the P2.5 billion funding for the program meant for 250,000 beneficiaries.
He said the used amount benefited 226,714 land-based and sea-based OFWs.
DOLE has an approved 261,543 qualified applicants for AKAP, which provides Covid-affected OFWs a one-time cash aid of P10,000 or US$200.
DOLE still has a pending request for an additional funding for the program from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
AKAP initially has budget of P1.5 billion, before DBM granted later granted DOLE an additional P1 billion to DOLE for the implementation of the said program.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said it may use about a billion of its budget to provide cash aid for OFWs, who did no benefit from AKAP.
In a related development, OWWA said it was able to assist an additional 11,000 repatriated OFWs.
Citing data from OWWA, Bello said the number of returnees, who were transported by OWWA and other concerned agencies, back to their home provinces has now increased to 122,369 from 111,400 last week.
He said among those who were recently assisted by OWWA were the 2,369 OFWs took their rides home from the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange on Monday.
Image credits: Roy Domingo