OWWA assists 2000 Cordi OFWs home

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY--The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration assisted returning overseas workers back home in the Cordillera.

As of July 29, some 2,019 returning OFWs were assisted including 1,611 under the Uwian Na program of OWWA in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard, OWWA-CAR reported during the Cordillera regional disaster risk reduction management council regional task force Covid-19 joint coordination meeting.  

Two hundred forty two of the returning OFWs were from Abra, 76, Apayao; 884, Baguio City; 477, Benguet; 140, Ifugao; 125, Kalinga and 75 from Mountain Province.

A total 23 of the returning OFWs tested positive for Covid-19 (4 in Baguio, 3 in Benguet, 3 in Abra, 2 in Apayao, 3 in Ifugao, 7 in Kalinga and 1 in Mountain Province.)

The Uwian Na program for returning OFWs follows four stages.

Upon arrival at the airport, OFWs will be swabbed and will be given quarantine center assignment.

At the quarantine facilities which are usually hotels, they wait for their swab test results.  

If the swab test result is negative, the OFWs will be picked up from their hotels and bring them to the PITZ to the buses that would bring them to their respective regions.

In their home regions or local government, they have to follow requirements that include swab testing and 14-day quarantine at identified isolation facilities.

Aside from their hotels, the government also answers the plane and bus that their vehicle goes home to their regions, according to OWWA post  

Meanwhile, for assistance to OFWs, OWWA - CAR reported that there were 3,445 applications submitted for the AKAP or Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong Program of DOLE that provides P10, 000 financial assistance to Covid -affected OFWs.  

About  2,295 applications were approved, 77 disapproved, 244 DSWD pre-qualified beneficiaries, 186 pending applications due to needed documentary requirements and 643  on  process.

From March 5 to April 15, OWWA - CAR also provided P10, 000 financial assistance each to 454 OFWs affected by the travel ban to China, Macau, Taiwan and Hongkong due to Covid-19. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)