The P10,000 cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been given and is still available for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have been displaced or stranded due to the COVID19 pandemic.
This was announced by Henjie B. Gatdula, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE-Davao del Norte, during the latest edition of Pakigsayod Radio 911 interview aired and streamlined at PTV Davnor 48 on May 6, 2020.
“So kaning naay recently gi-issue Department Order No. 212, gihatag para sa mga displaced pud or stranded na OFWs (This recently issued Department Order No. 212 was for the sake of displaced and stranded OFWs)” Gatdula said.
According to him, the Department Order specifies the persons eligible to apply for the P10,000 cash aid which includes documented and undocumented OFWs.
He added that the cash assistance is a “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” program by OWWA, an attached agency of DOLE which OFWs can apply for online, no need for personal presence which often involves long lines.
He encouraged those who may be eligible to go to DOLE.gov.ph or OWWA Facebook Page to see the guidelines on how to avail of the P10,000 cash assistance.
According to OWWA’s report, 892 beneficiaries in Davao del Norte have already received the P10,000 cash aid which totals to P8,920,000 during the program’s first tranche on April 17 – April 30.
The program is still on going with the second tranche which started on May 4 and has already benefited 155 OFWs. It is still being “advocated” to the displaced or stranded OFWs and that they can do the entire application process online.
He also revealed that along with “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs”, DOLE also has the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) which provided the one-time P5,000 assistance to 2,816 workers in Davao del Norte for the total of 14,080,000 pesos.
As well, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) which DOLE has released a total of 13,840,200 pesos to 3,495 beneficiaries in Davao del Norte, about 26% of the total fund released all over the Region. (Jan Vincent Leuterio, PIA XI)