MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has received an additional P1 billion budget for its cash assistance program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose jobs were affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the fund is part of the agency’s request for another P2.5 billion from the Department of Budget and Management for its cash assistance programs for displaced workers.
“I just received a notice from the Department of Budget and Management na dinagdagan yung pondo namin, kasi alam nila kakapusin kami, mabuti naman at naawa sila sa amin. Nagdagdag sila ng another P1 billion,” Bello sadid during a televised briefing.
(I just received a notice from the Department of Budget and Management that they are increasing our fund, they know that we might be short and good thing they pitied us. They added another P1 billion.)
“Kasi ang hiningi naming dagdag pondo ay P2.5 billion pero ang pinadala lang ay P1 billion, we will live with that. Hangga’t meron pa, ibibigay natin sa mga OFW kasi kailangang kailangan nila yan,” he added.
(We were asking for another P2.5 billion but they sent us P1 billion. We will live with that. As long as there are funds, we will give that to the OFWs who need it.)
The additional funds will be used to distribute a $200 cash aid to OFWs affected by the pandemic and are under DOLE’s Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) which had an initial P1.5 billion budget.
Bello said the agency has so far approved 100,000 out of over 400,000 applications of OFWs to be included in the program.