OFWs displaced by COVID-19, to receive P10k upon arrival

by Sammie Rodriguez November 9, 2020 Photo Source: Facebook Page of Pinoy OFWs. ...

by Sammie Rodriguez
November 9, 2020

Photo Source: Facebook Page of Pinoy OFWs.

MANILA, Philippines – Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were displaced by the pandemic will each receive an amount of 10,000 pesos government assistance upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

On Wednesday, November 3, 2020, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued the order, recognizing the delays in the handling of cash assistance since the onset of the pandemic.



In a virtual forum, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said “Why do we need to wait for them to apply for AKAP (Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong) program. If they were repatriated, it means that they were displaced due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. That’s the reason why they were sent back home. So, we are thinking once they arrive at the airport, we will give them the cash assistance given to them by President Rodrigo Duterte,”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), a total of 237,363 OFWs have been repatriated since the outbreak began.



Bello also reported that as of Tuesday, 2 November 2020, DOLE provided cash assistance of PHP 3.5 billion to approximately 350,000 OFW under the Abot Kamay and Pagtulong program with an additional PHP 3 billion under the Bayanihan 2 Law.

In applying for this, OFWs have to apply and wait for their applications to be approved. In an online news briefing, Bello said “Why do we have to wait for the OFWs to apply? We know they were displaced because of COVID-19 and therefore they deserve the financial assistance,”



Bello also assured that informal workers hired by the Agency's Emergency Employment Program in the respective provinces of Catanduanes and Albay would receive their salaries before the end of November.

“The employment of informal sector workers (under Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) should be started at the earliest possible time...this is my promise to President Duterte in our webinar meeting last Monday that we will have the payout to the beneficiaries not later than November 20,” Bello said.