
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration- Regional Welfare Office 1 (OWWA-RWO1) has started to assist OFWs from the war-torn Libya on Monday, August 11, 2014. OFWs who are repatriated on July 20, 2014, when the alert level was raised to Level 4 which is equivalent to Mandatory Repatriation, onwards are eligible to avail of the Financial Relief Assistance Program (FRAP) worth Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,000.00).
The FRAP, which was ratified by the OWWA Board of Trustees through Board Resolution No. 7, Series of 2014, intends to extend Php10,000.00 financial grant to the OFWs (both OWWA member and non-member) who were displaced by the political unrest in Libya.
Meanwhile, OFWs who arrived in the country before the Alert Level 4 Status was raised are also entitled to a Livelihood Assistance through the OWWA Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program. This program offers a livelihood starter kit worth 10,000.00 to displaced and distressed workers to enable them to start a business venture.
Both the FRAP and the OWWA Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program are part of the Assist WELL Program of the government spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment. Assist WELL stands for Welfare, Employment, Livelihood and Legal Assistance to be given by OWWA, POEA, NRCO and other attached agencies of DOLE to the OFWs who are repatriated due to emergency situations and adversities at their respective job sites. This program aims to deal with the predicaments and concerns of OFWs and to guarantee them of continuous assistance after their overseas employment.
As of August 12, 2014, there are already 70 Repatriated OFWs from Libya in Region 1 as per OWWA Membership Processing Center (OWWA-MPC) comprising of seven (7) OFWs from Ilocos Norte, nine (9) from Ilocos Sur, eight (8) from La Union and forty six (46) from Pangasinan. To date, there are already 11 OFWs who reported and who are given the one-time financial assistance worth Php10,000.00 in OWWA RWO1. The agency will continue to extend its services to the OFWs affected by the political crisis.
OWWA RWO1
August 13, 2012