By Pearl Gumapos
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Thursday (Feb. 10) reported that they have helped repatriate 923,652 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“923,652 na po ang napauwi natin mula sa DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] OWWA and the inter-agency effort na inatasan ng ating Pangulo,” OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
As for the budget, the agency was given P11.4 billion this year.
The agency also plans to provide cash assistance to OFWs in the form of DOLE Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong (AKAP), a financial assistance program established for OFWs who lost their jobs during the pandemic.
“Because of the 2022 budget coming in ay na-download na iyong funds from the DBM [Department of Budget and Management]. Inaasahan natin na higit kumulang ay mayroong 50,000 na panibagong mga OFWs ang makikinabang dito sa latest release,” Cacdac said. -ag
Watch the full interview with Administrator Cacdac here:
