OWWA-Caraga assists more than 6K returning OFWs

Amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) – Regional Welfare Office Caraga continues to provide assistance to the returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) upon their arrival at the Bancasi Airport and other nearby port of entries in the Caraga region. As of November 4, 2020, OWWA-Caraga has assisted a total of 6,468 returning OFWs including their dependents who have availed of the sweeper flights and “malasakit” voyages arranged by the OWWA beginning April 29, 2020. Of this number, 1,449 are residents of Butuan City; 1,271 from Agusan del Norte; 1,065 from Agusan del Sur; 1,153 from Surigao del Norte; 1,346 from Surigao del Sur; 138 from Dinagat Islands; and 115 from Misamis Oriental (Region X). The said OFWs strictly observed all the health and safety protocols before they were allowed to board the plane and vessel that includes negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The concerned local government units (LGUs) of the returning OFWs in the region were informed and coordinated beforehand in order to prepare their respective quarantine facilities and

transport services that will ferry the OFWs from Butuan City going to their respective localities subject to the minimum health standards required in their area. All returning OFWs are provided with free meals, food packs, transportation assistance, and accommodation for those who need to wait for their arranged transport service. Apart from the repatriation of displaced and distressed OFWs, more than ten human remains/cremains of deceased OFWs from Caraga region have

also been repatriated in coordination with their next of kin. Financial assistance for the surviving dependents of the deceased OFWs was provided especially those with active OWWA membership at the time of death. The repatriation assistance was successfully provided through the support and coordination with the members of the Regional Task Force (RTF) for COVID-19 One Caraga Shield. Also, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the OWWA Caraga have so far released a total of P24,850,000 cash assistance to 2,485 approved and qualified beneficiaries of the DOLE-AKAP for OFWs in the Caraga region, as of November 4, 2020. The OWWA-Caraga is expecting an influx of Caraganon OFWs for the next days as the Yuletide season nears. The agency is continuously on standby 24/7 for any developments regarding their repatriation. (OWWA-Regional Welfare Office Caraga/ PIA-Caraga)