Nearly 600,000 OFWs seeking cash aid from gov’t

July 21, 2020

Almost 600,000 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have sought financial aid from the government.

In a statement Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said  572,442 OFWs applied for the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) for OFWs program.

"Latest reports from DOLE’s overseas offices and OWWA showed that 240,583 requests for assistance under the government’s AKAP program have been approved," said the DOLE.

This means that, as Saturday, the labor department has disbursed P2.095 billion.

The AKAP program is a one-time cash assistance of $200 or P10,000 for onsite or repatriated OFWs affected by the pandemic.  DMS