The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is distributing $200 (around PHP 12,000) in Ayuda cash assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers impacted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This support targets workers who face job losses, reduced working hours, or sudden salary cuts due to regional instability.
In a recent press media announcement, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that the government has secured the necessary funding to sustain this program.
Government Commitment and Leadership
The program covers OFWs across 10 countries in the Middle East – Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
“Of this amount of PHP800 million, there will be allocations for financial assistance on-site, financial assistance here in our country for those who have returned, and there will be allocation also for transport, for airfare, air transport. In a nutshell, our financial assistance guidelines will pertain to those whose work has been affected by the crisis,” Cacdac explained.
He emphasized that the DMW is moving quickly to get funds to the workers who need them most, adding, “Lalarga tayo (All systems go) in terms of further distribution of our financial assistance of USD200 per worker affected by the crisis.”
Applying for help during a crisis can often feel overwhelming. To solve this, the DMW created a highly streamlined application process for this cash assistance.
How to Apply for the Cash Assistance
DMW Assistant Secretary Jun Rasul noted the importance of a hassle-free system. “The department has decided to simplify the procedure for application and make it easier for our affected OFWs to avail of this financial assistance of USD200,” he said.
Workers only need to submit basic documents to process their cash assistance claim:
- A filled-out request form
- A passport copy
- Proof of overseas work (such as a visa, labor card, or contract)
- Proof of income disruption (like reduced pay slips or a termination notice)
Flexible Documentation Options (Self-Declaration Form)
The agency also knows that securing official employer documents during emergencies is not always possible. To bridge this gap, they allow workers to submit alternative proof.
“And then to make it easier, we allow ‘sariling salaysay,’ self-declaration on the part of the affected OFW that he has lost his job or has been given pay cuts due to limited working hours, reduced working hours, and so on and so forth,” Rasul stated.
Affected workers can also present a certification from a recognized Filipino community organization to verify their reduced work hours. By removing complex bureaucratic steps, the DMW ensures that this vital $200 cash assistance reaches displaced OFWs as quickly as possible.