By Leslie Ann Aquino
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People is thinking of ways on how to further assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, especially those adversely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga
(CBCP / NICO BALBEDINA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
CBCP ECMI vice-chairman Bishop Ruperto Santos said one such plan is for dioceses to adopt a "study now, pay later" scheme for OFWs whose children are studying in diocesan schools. "We will work out with the dioceses to adopt aside from scholarships grants, this 'study now, pay later,'" he said in an interview.
The prelate said a long term project of cash voucher of P4,900 per family is also being arranged. Santos said he was also informed that cash vouchers and bags of groceries are also being distributed to OFWs.
According to the prelate, ECMI also houses stranded seafarers, attending to their needs and possible homecoming to their residency here in the country. "CBCP ECMI is always coordinating with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration with the plight of our OFWs, interceding for assistance and is helping." said Santos.
On Sunday, April 26, the Department of Labor and Employment said Over 230,000 OFWs are seeking to avail their "Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong" program. The DOLE said that, as of April 24, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLOs) and the local offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) already received 233,015 requests for assistance under the Covid Adjustment Measures Program-AKAP emergency fund that provides a one-time P10,000 or $200 cash aid to qualified OFWs.
Of the total number of requests, the Labor department said 118,134 were received by POLOs from workers onsite while the remainder were submitted by repatriated OFWs to OWWA and DOLE regional offices in the country.