OWWA gets additional ₱1 billion for OFWs’ DOLE AKAP

Another 100,000 displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will benefit from the cash assistance program of the government, which was infused with additional funds worth PHP1 billion, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said on Saturday.

In a Laging Handa briefing, OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac said some 100,000 OFWs affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic are entitled to the one-time cash aid from the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“The Department of Budget and Management has added PHP1 billion for the DOLE-AKAP applicants so that an additional 100,000 beneficiaries will benefit from the program,” Cacdac said.

He added that they are looking to start giving out the cash aid to OFWs next week.

“Starting this coming week, we will continue to approve applications it would be like part three of the DOLE-AKAP,” he said.

Cacdac noted that 230,000 OFWs have initially benefited from the program with a budget of over PHP2 billion

The one-time cash assistance is intended for displaced land-based and sea-based (regular/undocumented) workers, returning workers (Balik Manggagawa) to their job sites but were stranded in the Philippines.

Earlier, the DOLE reported that it has received over 560,000 applications for the program.