Some 8,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia stand to receive P10,000 each in financial aid from the Philippine government to tie them over in lieu of their unpaid salaries by Saudi companies who have declared bankruptcy about 10 years ago.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution of financial aid and relief assistance to the families affected by the 5.3 and 5.9-magnitude earthquakes that jolted Davao de Oro last March 6 and 7, respectively.
The DSWD has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for the transfer of P50 million to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) which will facilitate the fund’s distribution to the distressed OFWs.
Another P50 million will be sourced from the DMW’s fund for the same purpose.
“Early next week, bago mag-Wednesday na download na dapat ‘yung funds,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
“Bahagi ng development yung pagtanggap at pagkalinga sa mga migrant workers natin lalo na yung mga pamilya ninyong nandito na naiwan,” Gatchalian said.
DMW Secretary Susan Ople said the OWWA will coordinate with the OFWs in the list with a view to facilitating the fund’s distribution process.
The OFWs be asked to log on to a website to accomplish a form that would validate their eligibility to receive the cash aid, according to information from the DMW.
After accomplishing the online form, a control number will be given to each beneficiary, which they need to present in a claiming center to receive the cash aid.
Under the plan, there would be 17 claim centers nationwide, but the DMW did not disclose their exact location, saying final details would be released upon completion of the necessary online forms.
The earthquake-hit families were provided with family food packs,
non-food items and financial assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
In his message during the relief distribution on March 9, Gatchalian assured the continuous provision of relief assistance to the displaced families inside and outside evacuation centers. The Secretary likewise assured the families and the local government of the Department’s support until such time that their lives have been restored to normalcy.
Gatchalian, together with Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Diana Rose Cajipe, also visited the province to monitor and assess situations in the evacuation centers and houses of the affected families, and to determine further needs for relief and possible early recovery support.
As of press time, the Department has extended ₱6,243,150.00 worth of food and non-food items to the affected families in the Davao Region.
The DSWD has recorded 2,310 families or 11,228 persons affected by the incident in the 16 barangays in Davao de Oro.
The DSWD has a total of ₱704.46 million Quick Response Fund (QRF) at the DSWD Central Office and ₱5 million available at DSWD FO XI; 60,847 FFPs worth ₱53,433,401.52; and ₱19,201,276.44 worth of other food and NFIs.
The agency will continue to coordinate with the concerned LGUs to ensure that necessary assistance is immediately provided to affected families and individuals.