The government continues to provide financial support and assistance to Hongkong-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who contracted Covid-19 since the start of the fifth Covid-19 surge last February.
In separate dispatches submitted to Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” V. Ople, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Hongkong (POLO-HK) report 2,302 Covid-afflicted OFWs received the “Covid After Care Financial Assistance” benefit amounting to US$200 as of Monday, 04 July 2022.
“Getting sick with Covid-19 while you are alone overseas and without a support network to assist you can be very demoralizing for our OFWs,” said Ople.
“We should be able to reach out to them, let them know and feel that government is beside them in their battle with this dreaded sickness,” Ople added.
Another tranche covering the requests for assistance from 2,192 Hongkong-based OFWs is due for release in the coming days, reports OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac.
The Covid After Care Financial Assistance initiative is for OFWs who tested positive for Covid-19 and are seeking help. Requests for assistance are evaluated in accordance with the OWWAs guidelines. Additionally, food packs, hygiene kits, and when needed, temporary shelter are provided to those affected.
To avail of the Covid After Care Financial Assistance and any other support services from the government, OFWs need only get in touch with the nearest Philippine Overseas Labor Office or Philippine embassy in their host country.
In Hongkong, OFWs may access the Facebook Page of OWWA-HK through the following link: https://www.facebook.com/1628685604093885/posts/2744516505844117/.
They may also call the following numbers:
6345-9324 (OWWA-HK);
5529-1880 (POLO-HK); or
9155-4023 (Philippine Consulate).
OWWA also maintains its OFW Hotline 1348 support number in the Philippines.