JUST as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has feared, funds for the one-time cash assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are running out.
In a statement, the DOLE said the number of approved applications for the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) for OFWs Program has reached 261,543, which is already over the 250,000 targeted beneficiary of the financial subsidy program.
“We have almost exhausted the P2.5-billion AKAP assistance fund being extended to both on-site and repatriated OFWs affected by the pandemic,” said DOLE.
Of the approved applications, the department said 226,714 OFWs have already received the emergency aid.
“We have, so far, disbursed P2.324 billion of the P2.5-billion program fund, as of August 2,” it said.
The AKAP program is a one-time cash assistance of $200 or P10,000 for onsite and repatriated OFWs affected by the pandemic.
