Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac has assured that the rebate or cash-back for overseas Filipino workers, who have been OWWA members for the past 10 years and have not availed of any OWWA services or programs, will be available not later than the first quarter of 2018.
The official had earlier said the government was looking at a release date of not later than this year’s end.
“We are still targeting to finish it by the end of the year but just to be on the safe side, hindi na ito lalagpas ng first quarter of the next year. The (Labor) secretary has always wanted to get things done so we will work hard to have this done by the end of the year,” assured Cacdac at a recent gathering with Filipino community leaders in Abu Dhabi’s Dusit Thani Hotel.
“Crucial po yung magkano. Kasi we want to make sure na una hindi masyadong maliit. At pangalawa, hindi ko naman masabing hind masyadong malaki, pero yung sigurado tayong kakayanin ng pondo,” Cacdac said.
“So please bear we with us. We don’t want to bear the mistake of rushing and then biglang hindi pala kaya. So we want to make sure na pag-announce namin. Yung talaga ang tamang halaga,” he added.
OWWA has hired an actuarial expert to study the mechanism and sustainability of the program.
The OWWA administrator stressed another study is needed to be able to track old OWWA members and the mode of payment transfer. “There is a possibility that the members have already relocated in other places. One suggestion that we are looking into is through the banking system,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac was part of the DOLE delegation that came recently to UAE for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing between the Philippines and the UAE. (GC)
