Over 37K pandemic-hit OFWs get OWWA help

Over 37,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Region 12 who were affected by the pandemic have received assistance from OWWA since May last year.

OWWA assisted OFWs during their quarantine in Metro Manila and facilitated their return to Region 12 through sweeper flights arranged with other government agencies.

OWWA provided financial aid under DOLE-AKAP, giving PHP10,000 cash grants to qualified returning workers and PHP30,000 to college-level dependents of displaced OFWs.

As of August 18, OWWA estimates that around 653,401 OFWs have returned since the start of the pandemic, with about half still having jobs abroad.

OWWA expects another 150,000 to 180,000 OFWs to return by year-end, but anticipates a lower percentage will be distressed workers compared to last year.