A TOTAL of P250 million has been set aside by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) adversely affected by the ban on travel to and from China, Hong Kong, and Macau amid the threat posed by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

In an interview, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said stranded OFWs may receive cash assistanced from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

"We are talking of about P250 million total budget financial assistance. That is just for the P10,000 cash assistance for each OFW unable to depart," said Bello.

According to OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, the budget was based on the 25,000 projected maximum number of OFW beneficiaries affected by the travel ban.

As of Friday, February 7, Cacdac said a total of P25,110,000 have already been released for the 2,511 affected OFWs.

"This is for the nationwide distribution of financial assistance to China/Macau/Hong Kong OFWs affected by the travel ban," Cacdac.

Bello said the cash assistance is on top of the accommodation and transportation assistance that will be provided to affected OFWs.

"Some of them may not have their respective residences here (in Metro Manila). So they are provided with temporary halfway house by OWWA. As for others, who opted to go back to their provinces, they were provided with transportation expenses," said Bello. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)