DUBAI: Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has signed a directive providing for guidelines on the disbursement of a one-time financial assistance of US$200 each to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Issued on April 8 and posted on the government agency’s website today April 9, Department Order 212 takes immediate effect and covers both OFWs abroad and those currently stranded in the Philippines as a result of flight suspensions and Covid-9 measures implemented by host countries.
In a media advisory, Bello said the order was issued to ensure the relief aid program’s “effective and streamlined implementation.”
The Labor Secretary said funds “including other administrative expenses of Central and Regional operations to be incurred in the implementation of this program shall be sourced from DOLE COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-CAMP) in the amount of Php1.5 billion.”
Priority countries
There are 20 priority countries on the list, among which include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf region.
OFWs in the following COVID19-hit countries in Asia and the Pacific will also be prioritized: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, and New Zealand.
For Europe and the Americas: Canada, Cyprus, Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain, United States of America are on the list of priorities.
Coverage
As per the directive, the following OFW categories are covered:
- Regular/documented OFWs who possesses a valid passport and appropriate visa or permit to stay and work in the host country; and whose contract was processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)
- Qualified undocumented OFWs or those who were “originally regular or documented workers, but for some reason or cause have lost their regular or documented status.”
- Balik-Manggagwa who were unable to return to the host country due to that country’s Covid-19 measures.
Eligibility
The directive has a provision specifically stating that eligible OFWs are those “who have experienced job displacement due to the receiving country’s imposition of a lockdown or community quarantine, or themselves having been infected by the disease.”
The eligible OFW must still be at the overseas jobsites or in the Philippines as Balik-Manggagawa. Those already repatriated are also eligible to apply for the financial assistance, according to the directive.
Procedure
Requirements for onsite-OFWs that need to be submitted to the POLOs are:
- Filled-up application form for Special Cash Assistance at the POLO’s website or social media account.
- Passport copy.
- Proof of overseas employment.
- Proof of loss of employment due to Covid-19.
OFWs who became undocumented through no fault of their own must submit proof that they are currently involved in an ongoing case – reference number or case endorsement stamped by POLO.
As per the directive, POLOs are tasked to evaluate the application within five working days and notify the OFWs on the status also within five working days after evaluation.
Approved applicants will received their US$200 through bank transfer or money remittance, the directive stated.
Meantime, Balik-Manggagawa and repatriated OFWs need to submit the following to their OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs):
- Filled-up application forms
- Passport copy
- Proof of overseas employment
- Proof of loss of employment due to Covid19.
The same evaluation procedure applies. Approved applicants will receive the Philippine peso equivalent (Php10,000) through money remittance / Peso Net.
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The Daily Bread 