OWWA extends cash relief to OFW returnees
from Kuwait
BUTUAN
CITY, May 31 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration -
Caraga (OWWA-Caraga) has already disbursed P85,000 under the Cash Relief (CARE)
Program for those who availed the Kuwait amnesty.
As of
April 30, 2018, the amount was distributed to 18 overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs) returnees from different provinces of Caraga. The applications for cash
relief were filed within 90 days after their arrival in the Philippines.
OWWA
members, active or non-active, with at least one recorded contribution were
entitled to apply for the cash relief of P5,000.
In
addition, OWWA also provides livelihood assistance to the repatriated workers
through the Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay Program.
The
program is a package of livelihood assistance intended to provide immediate
relief to returning member OFWs through cash assistance amounting to a maximum
of P20,000 as start-up or additional capital for the livelihood project,
entrepreneurship development training, and other services that will enable the
target beneficiaries to start/manage a livelihood undertaking through
self-employment, such as provision of marketing linkages and job referral.
It
can be recalled that Kuwaiti’s Interior Ministry had announced a general
amnesty for foreign violators of the country’s residency laws that ran from
January 29 until February 22 and is expected to benefit nearly 130,000 illegal
residents. Under the program, all overstaying migrant workers were allowed exit
without suffering fines or penalties.
On
February 20, the Kuwait government announced that it extended its amnesty for
overstaying Filipino workers, a few days after the Philippines made the request
to allow it to accommodate more workers who want to go home. The deadline was
extended for another two months, which ended April 22, 2018.
The
Cash Relief (CARE) Program is a one-time assistance to OWWA members who availed
of the Amnesty Program offered by the government of. This is to aid the member
OFW amnesty availees to defray their incidental expenses upon their return to
their families.
For
additional details and documentary requirements, qualified members are advised
to apply to any OWWA Regional Office nearest their residence. They may also
call the Regional Welfare Office Caraga for more information about the program,
through telephone numbers 815-1894/342-6179 and hotline numbers
09173150590/09399259895. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
