Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will now directly receive the PhP 10,000 financial aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) upon arrival in the airport.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III pointed out that by doing this, the cash assistance from the AKAP program will immediately be in the hands of the OFWs. The new process is better than the old one which requires submission of documents to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and wait for approval.
There are roughly 285,000 OFWs who have currently received the aid through the AKAP program. The Labor department is optimistic that all repatriated OFWs will receive their cash assistance before Christmas.
Report from Louisa Erispe
