DOLE starts processing P10,000 cash aid for OFWs affected by COVID-19 pandemic

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced Wednesday that it has started the processing of financial assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said President Duterte approved the release of P1.5 billion to DOLE for financial support to overseas workers displaced by the pandemic. “This assistance program is good until the available funds are used up,” he added.
Bello said that the DOLE along with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the various Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) can now start processing the release of financial aid for 150,000 OFWs displaced by the health crisis under the “Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong” (AKAP) program.
“Overseas workers, both land-based and sea-based, who have been displaced by a lockdown in a foreign country will be given a one-time financial assistance amounting to P10,000 or USD200, or the equivalent amount in their host countries, under the Department of Labor and Employment’s AKAP program for OFWs,” he said.
Bello said that the DOLE-AKAP coverage will cover not only documented workers but also undocumented ones as long as they have “undertaken” actions toward regularization or they are active members of OWWA.
The DOLE-AKAP program will also include OFWs infected by the virus provided that they have not received any form of financial assistance from their host government or foreign employer, and those displaced by a COVID-19 lockdown imposed by the governments in their places of work.
OWWA and the POLOs will now start the processing and evaluation of the qualified DOLE-AKAP recipients, especially in countries with heavily affected by the pandemic, such as those in the Middle East and Africa (Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) Europe and the Americas (Canada, Cyprus, Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, U.S.) and Asia (Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, New Zealand.)
To avail of the program “on-site” OFWs must submit the following documents to their respective POLO:
a. Accomplished application form for the special cash assistance which is downloadable at their respective POLO website or social media account;
b. Photocopy of their passport and/or travel documents;
c. Proof of overseas employment, such as a valid OEC, residence ID, visa, reentry-visa etc.
d. Proof of loss of employment on account of the COVID-19 disease; and
e. Proof of a pending case that has caused their current “undocumented status, such as case reference number, case endorsement stamped by the POLO, etc.
Balik Manggagawa, or repatriated OFWs must submit the following documents to their respective regional or local OWWA offices:
a. Accomplished application form for special cash assistance downloadable at www.dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph website;
b. Copy of passport or travel documents;
c. Proof of overseas employment, such as valid OEC, residence ID, visa/re-entry visa, etc. and
d. Proof of loss of employment due to the COVID-19 disease.
READ MORE: DOLE proposes P10,000 cash aid for 150,000 OFWs