OWWA releases cash assistance to seafarers

OWWA releases cash assistance to seafarers
Genivi Factao April 22, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/04/22/business/maritime-business/owwa-r...

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has started releasing the $200 or P 10,000 financial assistance to seafarers who were displaced due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said they already approved 5,100 applications as of Monday, half of which were applications from seafarers. Their target is to provide assistance to 50,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) AKAP initiative for OFWs.

“It won’t take long and our seafarers would feel that the government is providing them care though the DoLE–AKAP,” he said.

OWWA has issued the guidelines on the provision of financial assistance to sea-based Filipino workers. The seafarers would simply need to write a letter, indicating that they were stranded and need assistance. The letter should bear the name with signature. A photo copy of Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) must be attached to the letter.

“This will be sent to DoLE-AKAP website,” he said.

Meanwhile, OWWA said OFWs who have been issued certificates of completion of their 14-day quarantine or those who may be required to undergo mandatory 14-day home quarantine must be allowed transit.

He said all local government units (LGUs) were enjoined to allow the docking of maritime vessels in their ports and allow the disembarkation and transit of the OFWs to their ultimate destination in the country.

He said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases issued Resolution 22 Series of 2020 ensuring the unhampered transit of OFWs.

As of April15, OWWA has aided about 10,000 stranded OFWs.

“They were the OFWs whom we have personally transported, fed, accommodated, befriended and kept company during these difficult times,” he said.