DOLE suspends applications from displaced OFWs for cash aid

May 13, 2020

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered the suspension of the one-time cash assistance program for overseas Filipino workers displaced due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In an interview Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said: "We have already put on hold the program because we already have (exceeded) our allocation, which is only for 150,000 OFWs."

"We will have to stop accepting applications," he added.

Data from DOLE said it received a total of 405,735 applications for the program.

Of the total applications filed, the government has approved a total of 137,204 to receive the P10,000 or $200 cash assistance.

Bello said they disbursed a total of P1.05 billion in OFW cash assistance as of May 11.

The program has  P1.5 billion to provide assistance to a total of 150,000 OFWs.

Bello said they have sought an additional P2.5 billion budget from the Office of the President.

"They are contributing a lot to our economy. And it is only just now that they are asking for our help. This is the first time that we can be able to repay them for their annual contribution to the economy," he said.

"Hopefully, our leaders will be touched and give the additional funding. Hopefully, this will answer for the needs of more OFWs displaced as a result of COVID-19," said Bello. DMS