The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has provided several financial assistance programs and support for OFWs whose livelihood and work have been affected when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the globe.
OWWA Chief Hans Cacdac stated that the funding for OFW assistance increased seven-fold during the Duterte administration, from Php 2 billion in 2016 to Php 14 billion in 2021.
“More than any other point in history, dito sa Duterte administration talagang umakyat yung budget or funding for OFW assistance. To give you an idea, before the Duterte Administration, pumapalo ng 2 or 2.5 billion (pesos) per year ang OWWA budget, swerte na pag naka 3 billion. In 2021 our budget became 14 billion kasi kasama yung emergency repatriation, yung food, transport and accommodation,” said Cacdac.
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Cacdac highlighted that this is separate from the OWWA Trust Fund – and while the funds to a slight hit during the pandemic time, the funding stands at Php 18.3 billion, meant specifically to support the livelihood and education projects of the families of bonafide OWWA members.
To date, DOLE, through its collaboration with other Philippine government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense and other attached organizations, have sent home over 750,000 OFWs, spending over Php 17 billion of funds to ensure that the hotel quarantine, food, PCR tests, and transportation of OFWs remain free of charge.
Cacdac also revealed that Sec. Bello’s DOLE-Abot Kamay ang Pangarap program (DOLE-AKAP) have also provided the one-time financial assistance to 520,000 OFWs with a budget of Php 5.2 billion.
In addition, scholarships provided for OFW families in need also increased by four times compared to pre-COVID numbers. Cacdac highlighted that from the annual 10,000 scholarships, the number of OFW families with kids in college that are now supported by DOLE have increased to 45,000.
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Cacdac said that this is DOLE’s way to support families especially the parents who flew overseas to provide better education for their children.
“I’m proud to report for the last two years especially in 2021 yung OWWA Board of Trustees led by the Secretary (Bello) declared this period of time as ‘scholarship years’ kasi nga bahagi ng tulong sa mga OFWs ay tulong para sa kanilang mga anak. Pinakadahilan kung bakit sila nag abroad in the first place. I’m proud to report na dumoble yung output ng bilang ng scholars. To give you an idea, annually 10,000 ang scholars natin pre-COVID. Umakyat to 20,000 ang Collegiate level scholars natin – mga anak ng OFWs sa kolehiyo sa OWWA.
He added: “On top of that, yung programa ni Pangulong Duterte na naipagutos sa DOLE through Sec. Bello, yung Tabang OFW program, kung saan ay umakyat na ng halos 25,000 beneficiaries yung collegiate level school assistance sa mga anak ng apektadong OFWs gawa ng COVID. So if you add the 20,000 just for this year alone na scholars, dadagdag mo yung 25,000 ng Tabang, aakyat ng 45,000 (ang scholars) that’s four times the annual average before COVID.”
