DOLE seeks P2.5 billion more for OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is seeking an additional P2.5 billion to finance its cash assistance program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The fund released to us is fast depleting,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement on Sunday, adding that they need to address the needs of the increasing number of on-site and repatriated OFWs who are requesting assistance.

With the additional funding, Bello said that they would be able to extend emergency assistance to close to half a million OFWs.Onetime cash aid

Dole was already given P2.5 billion in two tranches to finance the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong, a onetime emergency cash aid of $200 or P10,000 to help OFWs displaced by the pandemic. Financing for the program came from the emergency fund under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

With the amount, 250,000 OFWs were expected to benefit from the assistance.

Of the total beneficiaries, 188,473 already received the cash aid as of July 4 amounting to P1.927 billion.

Bello said about 56,283 OFWs of the total number of approved requests have yet to receive their assistance.

Of those who have received the aid, 105,756 are on-site while the remaining have returned to the country.