Owwa gives aid to Pinoy workers in Syria

THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) is ready to provide assistance, through its “Relief Assistance Program” (RAP), to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the ongoing war in Syria.

However, Owwa regional director Hassan Jumdain said that only OFWs mandatorily repatriated from Syria may avail of the P10,000 financial assistance.

He said that so far four OFWs from Zamboanga Peninsula were able to avail themselves of financial assistance through RAP.

The government has adopted the program to help cushion the impact of employment and income displacement brought about by the ongoing turmoil in Syria.

Jumdain said the OFW must present his or her passport and proof of travel from Syria to the Philippines on or after December 22, 2011 as verified in the official list of repatriates maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment and Owwa to be able to receive the financial assistance. (Bong Garcia)