The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has revealed that around 20,000 OFWs have been severly affected and displaced due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Charge d’Affaires Charleson Hermosura from Kuwait stated that nearly 25,000 Filipinos have requested for assistance to get the one-time financial aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“Ito pong bilang na ito ang ating basehan sa pagsabi kung ilang Pilipino sa Kuwait ang nawalan ng trabaho o ‘di kaya ay naapektuhan ang trabaho dahil sa pandemya,” said Hermosura during a Laging Handa briefing.
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Hermosura said the Embassy is now waiting for the release of funds. Around 19,000 applications were approved, of which 10,000 applicants already received the cash aid as per reports from the Philippine News Agency.
Under the DOLE Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program, qualified Filipinos affected by the outbreak may get a one-time USD200 cash assistance.
Aside from the DOLE financial aid, the Embassy has also distributed food packs to the most affected Filipinos in Kuwait. A USD200 cash aid is also allocated for Filipinos afflicted with Covid-19, Hermosura shared.
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“Sa ngayon, nasa 639 na ang application para sa naturang programa, ito rin ang ating sinasabing bilang ng mga nagkasakit ng COVID-19 na Filipino dito sa Kuwait,” he said.
Since offices resumed operations in the country, the diplomat noted that no Filipino worker has so far reported any concerns.
