More than a week after the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) commenced processing and releasing Php 10,000 cash assistance to stranded OFWs bound to mainland China, Macau, Hongkong and Taiwan, a total of 556 OFWs has benefited with a total amount of Php 5,560,000 as of February 13, 2020.
To recall, the said cash assistance was an immediate response of OWWA to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to ease and lessen the burden of the would-be departing OFWs after the government imposed a Temporary Travel Ban due to COVID-19 outbreak.
In Ilocos Region, Pangasinan has the most number of claimants with 261, followed by Ilocos Sur and La Union with both 107 and Ilocos Norte with 75. Stranded OFWs from nearby regions also claimed their cash assistance in RWOI. Four (4) are from Central Luzon, one (1) from Cagayan Valley and one (1) from Cordillera Administrative Region.
Stranded OFWs who have not yet claimed their cash assistance may go to the nearest Satellite Office in their provinces or at OWWA Regional Welfare Offices for inquiries.
At the moment, the temporary travel ban to mainland China, Macau and Hongkong is not yet lifted and stranded OFWs are instructed to be alert for updates for the said matter.
