P10,000 for Overseas Filipino Workers under DOLE-AKAP for OFWs

A one-time financial assistance of Two Hundred US Dollars (US$200) or Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000), or its equivalent in the local currency of the host country, for displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has been approved. On 8 April 2020, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Department Order No. 212, series of 2020, providing for guidelines on the provisional financial assistance for displaced landbased and seabased Filipino workers due to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). This social amelioration program is called “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” (separate from the CAMP and TUPAD#BKK for Philippine-based workers). The coverage and application procedure for displaced OFWs, based on D.O. 212, are discussed below.

I. COVERAGE

The DOLE-AKAP for OFWs covers both documented, undocumented and repatriated OFWs, as well as Balik-Manggagawa, provided they comply with the requirements. 

A. Regular / Documented OFW, as defined in the 2016 Revised POEA Rules and Regulations, refers to those:

  • i. who possess a valid passport and appropriate visa or permit to stay and work in the receiving country; and 
  • ii. whose contract of employment has been processed by the POEA or the POLO.

B. Qualified Undocumented OFW:

  • i. who were originally regular or documented workers but for some reason or cause have thereafter lost their regular or documented status;
  • ii. who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts were not processed by POEA or the POLO, but have undertaken actions to regularize their contracts or status; or
  • iii. who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts were not processed by POEA or the POLO, but are active OWWA members at the time of availment.

C. Balik-Manggagawa who are unable to return to host country in view of host country lockdown due to COVID19.

II. ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the DOLE-AKAP, the recipients:

1. Must have experienced job displacement due to the receiving country’s imposition of lockdown or community quarantine or having been infected by the disease;

2. Must be still at overseas jobsites, or in the Philippines as Balik-Manggagawa, or already repatriated to the Philippines; and

3. Must not receive any financial support / assistance from the receiving countries / employers.

[Note that the OFW must have experienced “job displacement”. One of the requirements is “proof of loss of employment on account of COVID19,” which means that the financial assistance is available only if the OFW lost his/her employment or no longer has any work abroad because of COVID19. In other words, OFWs who are still employed, even if under a “no work, no pay” arrangement, are not covered.]

III. PRIORITY COUNTRIES / TERRITORIES FOR ONSITE OFWs

The DOLE shall provide financial assistance to qualified OFWs from the following countries with Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) presence and/or are heavily affected by COVID19:

Middle East and Africa

  • 1. Bahrain
  • 2. Israel
  • 3. Jordan
  • 4. Kuwait
  • 5. Lebanon
  • 6. Libya
  • 7. Oman
  • 8. Qatar
  • 9. Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
  • 10. United Arab Emirates

Asia and the Pacific

  • 1. Australia
  • 2. Brunei
  • 3. Hong Kong
  • 4. Japan
  • 5. Korea
  • 6. Macau
  • 7. Singapore
  • 8. Taiwan
  • 9. Malaysia
  • 10. New Zealand

Europe and Americas

  • 1. Canada
  • 2. Cyprus
  • 3. Italy
  • 4. Germany
  • 5. Greece
  • 6. Spain
  • 7. Switzerland
  • 8. United Kingdom of Great Britain
  • 9. United States of America

IV. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR ON-SITE OFWS

1. OFWs shall submit the following to the POLOs:

  • a. Accomplished Application Form for Special Cash Assistance, downloadable at the POLO’s website/social media account (see also www.dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph);
DOLE-AKAP sa OFW
Screen capture of dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph
  • b. Copy of Passport or Travel Document;
  • c. Proof of overseas employment, i.e., valid verified overseas employment, OEC, residence I.D.s, visa /re-entry visa, among others, or permit to stay in the receiving country;
  • d. Proof of loss of employment on account of COVID19; and
  • e. For OFWs who became undocumented through no fault of their own, proof that the OFW is currently involved in an ongoing case (e.g., case reference number, case endorsement stamped by POLO, among others).

2. After submission of complete documents, the POLOs shall evaluate the application within 5 working days, and notify the OFW on the status of his/her application within 5 working days.

3. If the application is approved, the POLO shall release the USD200.00 through bank transfer / money remittance.

V. APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR OFWS WHO HAVE BEEN REPATRIATED / BALIK-MANGGAGAWA

1. OFWs who have been repatriated to the Philippines and Balik-Manggagawa shall submit the following to the OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs):

  • a. Accomplished Application Form for Special Cash Assistance, downloadable at the www.dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph;
  • b. Copy of Passport or Travel Document;
  • c. Proof of overseas employment, i.e,. valid verified overseas employment, OEC, residence I.D.s, visa / re-entry visa, among others, or permit to stay in the receiving country; and 
  • d. Proof of loss of employment on account of COVID19.

2. After submission of complete documents, the RWOs shall evaluate the application within 5 working days, and notify OFWs on the status of his/her application within 5 working days.

3. If the application is approved, the DOLE Regional Office shall release the P10,000 through money remittance / Peso Net.

[Note: For Filipino workers in the formal sector affected by the ECQ, see 5,000 Pesos Assistance for Workers under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP)]

P&L Law

279 thoughts on “P10,000 for Overseas Filipino Workers under DOLE-AKAP for OFWs

  1. Orlando deveza patiag jr

    Good day po….gaano po ba katagal maaprove ang dole owwa akap financial fo ofw’s.nag fill up po aq sa online at naisend ko na po lahat ng requirements na hinihingi last june 2 po ako nakapag submit

    Reply
    1. pnl

      Hi Orlando. Sabi sa guidelines, 5 working days. Mas mainam na i-coordinate mo derecho sa DOLE-OWWA dahil sila ang nag-aaprove ng applications. Good luck.

  2. mary jane p.allapitan

    s\na matulungan nyo ako ofw repatration ako hanggang ngayon wala ako nakukuhang tulong single parent ako may 3 anak at 3months n lockdown s maynila

    Reply
  3. Zhet

    Good day! ..isa po ako sa nag-apply ng assistance for OFw..I was notified that iit was processed last July 3 and the Status was released pero wala pa po akong na-claim

    Reply
  4. Geneveve miñoza

    Yong asawa ko po April pa nag apply for akap hangang ngayon wlang natatangap.5 months nang wlang trabaho NASA Riyadh Saudi po cya pa tulong Naman po na mka tanggap nang akap…

    Reply
  5. Arlene Quibal Alvarez

    Hello magandang gabi po,, mag tanong Lang po ako kung pwede din po ba ako mag apply Jan sa benefits na sinasabi na makukuha, kasi po nung last June 28, 2020 Isa po ako sa nag karoon NG Corona virus, at hindi po ako pinadala sa hospital sa bahay Lang po ako nag quarantine, naawa po ako sa amo ko na babae kasi Isa po syang dra, dito sa saudi Arabia

    Reply
  6. Jorizza moreno

    Gud am po ask ko lng po sana dati po ako ofw Nung last year po napauwi po ako Dahl sa amo Kong hnd magnda Ang trato saamn…3mo.lng po ako sa Qatar..Nung nagpunta po kami Ng polo Qatar..iba po ung pinalagy nilang reason kng bakit uuwi…magttnugn lng po Sana kng paanu humingi Ng tulong balikmanggagawa….

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.