Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic and has to be repatriated back to the country will each receive P10,000 government assistance, upon their return home.
This was according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who also acknowledged bureaucratic delays in the release of the cash aid to OFWs.
At present, repatriated OFWs must apply for cash assistance and wait for their applications to be processed and approved.
“Why do we have to wait for the OFWs to apply? We know they were displaced because of the COVID-19 and, therefore, they deserve the financial assistance,” Bello says.
Image: Facebook/Department of Labor and Employment-DOLE
Adding that,” Once they arrive, the financial assistance given by the President for them should be ready. When they arrive at the airport, give them the assistance. Let us not wait for them to apply since we know they are OFWs”.
Bello said that a repatriated OFW can still submit documents to show job loss due to the pandemic, but the DOLE would not wait for these, if they already had the OFWs records.
“So long as we have proof that they are OFWs and they were displaced, we will give them assistance,” he says.
Bayanihan 2
Under the Bayanihan 2, the DOLE was given an additional P13 billion fund for its three workers’ assistance program.
With the additional funds, DOLE targets to grant 993,000 affected workers in private establishments with P5,000 cash support.
Image: Facebook/Department of Labor and Employment-DOLE
He also said that OFWs who were still waiting for cash aid should get their money before the end of November. DOLE senior officials were also directed to fast-track the handing out of assistance to the formal sector workers under the COVID Adjustment Measures Program and to the informal sector workers under the Tulong Panghanap-Buhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
