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DOLE receives over 400K OFW cash aid applications
FILE: Our returning OFWs continue to come in droves as DFA welcomes home 265 Filipino seafarers from the US, the UK and Germany: 126 from Norwegian Jewel, 33 from MV Viking Star, 96 from four Carnival cruise ships and 10 from MS Albatros. (Photo: DFAPHL/Twitter)
MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday said it has received over 400,000 overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) applications for its Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program, a one-time PHP10,000 (USD200) cash assistance.
Latest data from the agency as of Tuesday showed a total of 409,020 on-site and local applicants have sought to avail of the cash aid.
On-site applications are filed at Philippine Overseas Labor Offices abroad while local applications are filed at offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Of this number, 142,550 have been approved while 27,675 applications have been denied.
It added that reasons for denial include those having multiple applications (on-site and local), neither Balik-Manggagawa (BM) nor affected by lockdowns, those who have been repatriated or returned to the Philippines long before coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and those who are still receiving pay from employers.
On the other hand, a total of 109,182 OFWs received financial assistance, totaling to PHP1.117 billion.
On-site applications have reached 234,535. A total of 85,033 applications were approved while 22,926 applications were denied. The remainder is undergoing evaluation.
Funds released for approved on-site applications have reached PHP668.36 million given to 64,265 OFWs.
Meanwhile, the applications of OFWs in the country that were submitted before the OWWA have reached 174,485.
The approved applications are at 57,517 while denied applications are at 4,713.
A total of PHP449.170 million has been released to 44,917 OFWs.
The DOLE-AKAP program aims to assist displaced land-based and sea-based workers, returning workers.
It has a total budget of PHP1.5 billion aimed at providing assistance to around 150,000 OFWs.
