GOVT MUST BE READY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO OFWS IN QATAR WITH NEW OWWA LAW -ANGARA

Senator Sonny Angara has called on the government to ensure the welfare and safety and to provide immediate assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar and neighboring countries amid ongoing diplomatic row in the Middle East.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Qatar.

The labor department also announced that it is ready to repatriate the more than 200,000 OFWs, who may be affected after seven countries severed ties and closed their borders with the kingdom.

"Qatar has the third biggest OFW population in the Middle East. Para sa mga maaapektuhang OFWs, may nakahandang karampatang tulong ang ating pamahalaan para sa kanila. Ito ay nakapaloob sa bagong OWWA law na ating ipinasa," said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate labor committee.

The lawmaker pointed out that the new Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) law or Republic Act 10801, which was enacted last year, can boost the government's capacity to assist retrenched OFWs as reintegration program has been identified as one of the core programs of OWWA.

"Sa ilalim ng batas na ito, inaatasan ang OWWA na pagkalooban ng kinakailangang suporta ang OFWs na nahaharap sa matinding krisis sa ibang bansa. Una sa mga ipagkakaloob na tulong ang repatriation assistance ay libreng tiket na magagamit nila pauwi ng bansa," he explained.

"Sa pagbabalik Pinas, maaari silang mag-avail sa iba't ibang programa na makatutulong sa kanila sa paghahanap ng trabaho o kaya'y ng mga posibleng pagkakitaan. Kabilang din sa matatanggap nilang suporta ang credit assistance, education and training benefits, skills-for-employment scholarship program at education for development scholarship program," the senator added.

Under the law sponsored by Angara, at least 10 percent of the total collection of OWWA should be used for the reintegration program every year which includes trainings on financial literacy, entrepreneurial development, techno-skills, business counseling as well as job referrals for both local and overseas employment.

Moreover, under the OWWA's "Balik-Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay" program, displaced or distressed workers can avail of either starter kits worth P7,500 or a livelihood assistance of P10,000, or a special loan facility intended to support enterprise development where an OFW-member or their legal dependent can avail of a loanable amount of P300,000 to P2 million.

"Inaatasan din ang OWWA na magbigay din ng tulong kahit sa mga OFW na hindi miyembro ng OWWA," Angara said.