The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has committed to assist widows, heirs and other family members of the deceased overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were affected when their Saudi Arabia employers declared bankruptcy between 2015 to 2016.
In a statement, the DMW said it has already issued a guideline that stipulates the steps for processing and cashing checks for the beneficiaries of deceased Saudi OFW claimants.
“This process involves the submission to the DMW of legal affidavits and public documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, to confirm identities and familial ties to the deceased Saudi OFW claimant,” the statement read.
“Beneficiaries are also required to create a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) designating the person to whose bank account the funds shall be deposited once the indemnity checks are processed,” it added.
The DMW said that upon receiving and verifying these documents, the DMW shall identify the rightful executor or heirs of the deceased Saudi OFW claimant and facilitate the endorsement of checks for deposit and processing.
The department, it said, shall also facilitate the deposit or encashment of checks.
Earlier, the DMW forged an agreement with the Landbank of the Philippines and the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) for the management and handling of indemnity checks from the Saudi government intended to settle claims for unpaid wages and other benefits of the displaced OFW claimants.
The same agreement stated that both the banks will provide for the implementing guidelines that will simplify the process for the encashment of indemnity checks of widows and survivors of deceased OFW claimants.
“It also provides a mechanism that will prevent the checks sent to deceased OFW claimants from November to December last year from going stale, disenfranchising their widows and heirs from collecting what was due them,” the statement read.
The DMW said all the necessary documents for verification and identification must be submitted to the Office of the Director for Internal Audit Services, located on the 3rd Floor of the Blas F. Ople Building, Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City 1501.
The deadline for submission by the first batch of recipients is April 15, 2024. The deadline for succeeding batches shall be announced at a later date.
The survivors and heirs, it said, can also contact their respective group leaders or to connect with the DMW through the following channels:
Hotline: +63 9205171059
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dmw.gov.ph
https://www.dmw.gov.ph and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmw.gov.ph