By Richa Noriega The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said on Wednesday that workers going to Taiwan who were stranded in the country due to the temporary travel ban may receive financial assistance from the government this week. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MANILA BULLETIN) OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the labor department was coordinating to clear the process in distributing the P10,000 grant of financial assistance to the stranded workers. “Kung maisaayos po ang prosesong ito ay malamang po, this week ay makakapagdistribute na rin tayo ng financial assistance.” Cacdac said in radio channel DZMM. (If we can fix the process this week, we can probably distribute financial assistance.) Cacdac said the authorities will talk to the employers of the stranded OFWs who fear of losing their jobs to explain the situation. “Ang ating Philippine Overseas Labor Office ay makikipag-usap din muna sa mga employers para maipaliwanag ang sitwasyon. Ang payo ko ‘wag muna mag-isip ng extreme scenarios dahil meron pa namang pag-uusap na mangyayari,” he said. (POEA is talking to the employers to explain the situation. My advice is to avoid thinking extreme scenarios because there will still be talks.) POEA confirmed on Tuesday that OFWs going to Taiwan will not be allowed to leave the country as they are covered by the temporary travel ban imposed due to the threat of the COVID-19. POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said that POEA will also temporarily suspend the processing of Overseas Employment Certificate (OECs) of OFWs to Taiwan. The POEA has already directed agencies to inform employers of OFWs who are scheduled to leave that there will be a delay in their travel because of the travel ban. Those scheduled to leave for Taiwan were allowed to do so prior to DOH’s formal announcement. READ MORE: POEA: OFWs off to Taiwan covered by nCoV travel ban According to World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Dashboard data on the virus, there are 42,966 confirmed cases with 1,018 reported deaths in 25 countries as of Feb. 11. READ MORE: China virus death toll tops 1,100 as new cases fall The total number of PUIs in the country is now at 382 based on data from the Department of Health (DOH), 196 of which tested negative for the viral disease, while 266 of them are still under investigation. Health authorities are still waiting for the results of the 183 samples sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). (With a report from Merlina Hernando-Malipot) READ MORE: 200 PUIs test negative for Covid-19