The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) could soon allow distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to avail of the agency’s assistance program with less requirements.
Raul Dado, DFA Executive Director for Migrant Workers Affairs, said the agency will soon implement a “liberal approach” in processing of assistance to nationals (ATN) services by relaxing steps and procedures on filing a request for assistance.
“The funds will assist them in most of their needs,” he told the PNA.
Dado said the new set of guidelines now awaits President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.
DFA Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said the new guidelines could be implemented immediately after approval.
Under the new terms, purchase of personal items that were confiscated in their host countries could not be charged to ATN fund.
Moreover, ATN fund will now cover repatriation of OFWs to their provinces. Currently, government fund only shoulders expenses for Manila transfer.
In his second State of the Nation Address, Duterte announced the increase of DFA’s ATN fund from P400 million to P1 billion.
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