DOLE Coronavirus Assistance, Can be Taken Advantage of by OFWs and Repatriated OFWs

Filipinos in the country aren't the only ones troubled with the outbreak of the COVID-19. For all we know, the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are stressed wherever they are as well. As of writing, the numbers of Filipino people who are infected are rising; and it's not going anywhere near the end. There are, in fact, OFWs who are still in the countries where they're working; and the DOLE is here to help them.

That's why the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is extending their assistance to OFWs too. The guidelines on how OFWs can take advantage of the DOLE Coronavirus assistance that they are offering have been released.

Read: Cabinet Members Give 75 Percent of Their Salaries to Help in the COVID-19 PH Government Efforts

What is the DOLE Coronavirus assistance?

This is the program that the department has set up for OFWs that have been disenfranchised. The cash assistance benefit that they are giving for the outbreak of the infamous disease is not stopping from threatening the entire globe.

A one-time financial support amounting to $200 or P10,000 will be given to both seabased and landbased OFWs whose professions and jobs were intervened by the virus.

Silvestre Bello III, Secretary of DOLE said that the DOLE is prepared with the guidelines of the DOLE Coronavirus assistance or the DOLE-AKAP for OFWs.

The Department of Labor and Employment has already prepared the guidelines of the DOLE-AKAP assistance program for OFWs to ensure its effective and streamlined implementation."

So in this article, we will be detailing the guidelines of the DOLE-AKAP. What OFWs need; how they can get and apply for it, and how long before they receive the funds. But first, let's understand what the qualifications are for the DOLE Coronavirus assistance.

Read: How to Receive Your P5K Salary Subsidy From the epartment of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

Qualifications for the DOLE-AKAP

The DOLE Coronavirus assistance, just like any other program in this day, has certain qualifications. As per the memorandum that was published and announced by department these are the three (3) qualifications that DOLE would look for:

1. The OFW should have presence in oversea job sites, or in the Philippines either already repatriated or balik-manggagawa;
2. OFWs should have at least experienced job displacement because of the country they are in declaring a quarantine or a lockdown; must be because of the Coronavirus; and
3. The OFW must not, in any way, receive financial support or any form of assistance from the countries that are or were in and from their employers.

Read: This is How the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Will Help Informal Workers, Tricycle Drivers, Sidewalk Vendors

Eligible countries

Bello said that DOLE will be prioritizing the financial assistance to certain countries with the POLO or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

The Department shall provide financial assistance to qualified OFWs from countries with Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) presence and/or are heavily affected by COVID-19."

Other than the qualifications, there also are eligibility in terms of the country that the OFW was working. These are the qualified countries for the DOLE-AKAP:

Asia Pacific

•  New Zealand
• Malaysia
• Taiwan
• Singapore
• Macau
• Korea
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Brunei
• Australia

Read: P1.3 Billion Budget as Financial Assistance From DOLE

Middle East and Africa

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Oman
• Libya
• Lebanon
• Kuwait
• Jordan
• Israel
• Bahrain

Americas and Europe

• The United States of America (USA)
• United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain
• Switzerland
• Spain
• Greece
• Germany
• Italy
• Cyprus
• Canada

Read: Who Are the Middle Class and How Are They Different From the Poor?

Application process

Were the eligibility requirements clear to you? Do you now fully understand whether or not you (if you're an OFW) or a person you know is eligible for it? If so, then here's the complete and polished process on how OFWs can apply for the DOLE Coronavirus assistance:

1. The OFW must prepare the following documents:
   • Copy of the travel document or their passports
   • The Application Form for the Special Cash Assistance from POLOs (downloadable from POLO websites and social media)
   • Proof of employment loss because of the COVID-19 outbreak
   • Proof of being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)
   • For undocumented OFWs: Proof that OFW is involved in a case-to-case reference number or case endorsement duly stamped and authorized by POLO
2. Submit the documents to their respective POLOs
3. After submission, the OFWs would have to wait for five (5) working days. They'll then notify the OFWs on the status of their application within five (5) working days.
4. If approved, then the POLO would release and send the $200 either through money remittance or bank transfer.

Read: Who Can Go For the Mass Testing on April 14, 2020?

For balik-mangagawa or for OFWs that have been repatriated:

They need to prepare to submit the following documents to the OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs):

• Duly accomplished application form for the Special Cash Assistance (can be downloaded at http://dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph)
• Copy of the travel document or their passports
• Proof of employment loss because of the COVID-19 outbreak
• Proof of being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) (verified OEC, residence IDs, visa or re-entry visa, among others)

The same process goes - they'd have to submit it to the RWOs. Then, when they get approved, they will get P10,000 that would be given to them through money remittance or Peso Net.

Read: COVID-19 Hotline, Established by the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH)

For clarification, Bello said that workers whose contracts weren't processed by either the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or the POLO but have done actions to regularize their statuses or contracts.

Also included in the program are those who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts were not processed by POEA or the POLO, but have undertaken actions to regularize their contracts or status; or who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts were not processed by POEA or the POLO, but are active OWWA members at the time of availment."

When can members apply for the DOLE Coronavirus Assistance?

As per the document released by DOLE, this shall take effect immediately. Meaning, from the day you read this post, if you know someone who is eligible for it, you can tell them about this. They can take advantage of the DOLE-AKAP program for them to receive financial support and assistance amidst this outbreak of the virus.

Read: Subdivision Residents Don’t Need Help From the Government? The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Says So

The funds for this program as well as other expenses of operation are sourced from the DOLE COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-CAMP). It is amounting to P1.5 billion and hopefully, it is enough for all the OFWs who are in need of help and assistance.

In other news, our country has recorded a total of 4,195 confirmed COVID-19 cases with an alarming 221 fatalities. There were recoveries of 140 and it is something that's going to the correct and the good path.

With the DOLE Coronavirus assistance to OFWs and even those who have been disenfranchised and undocumented, we hope that we'll see a better and a bigger future for all of us. What do you think about the DOLE-AKAP? Would it be enough to help our countrymen far from home with this outbreak? Furthermore, when would this all end?

Source/s: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Website | Department Order No 212 s, 2020