Stranded OFWs affected by travel ban get assistance

By February 16, 2020Inside News, News

SOME 566 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the region who are unable to return to their workplace yet due to the temporary travel ban, received Php10,000 cash assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

OWWA Ilocos regional information officer Geraldine Lucero said the assistance is the two national government agencies’ response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to ease and lessen the burden of the OFWs affected by the imposed temporary travel ban due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in several countries.

“The OFWs are from different parts of the region, returning to Hong Kong, Macao, and China,” she said.

Lucero said, stranded OFWs whose flight were scheduled between Feb. 2 to 16 are able to claim the cash assistance, while those whose flight were scheduled from Feb. 17 onwards can already submit their profile to OWWA’s satellite offices near them and they will be notified when they can receive the cash assistance.

“This aid is for documented OFWs, whether they are newly-hired or have been working there for a long time; active or inactive OWWA member. But those who are undocumented or are already residents of the said country where they work cannot avail of the said assistance,” she added.

Aside from the cash assistance, some of the stranded OFWs have also enrolled in short-term courses offered by OWWA in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Lucero said. (Helen Martin) 

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