OVER 191,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have refused to be repatriated, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Wednesday, June 24.
During a Senate committee hearing on labor, employment and human resources development, Bello said the agency recorded 345,000 OFWs who are affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
“Our record will show that there are 345,000 overseas workers who are affected by Covid. Out of this, more than 191,000 opted to stay, ayaw nilang umuwi bagama’t they’re offered to be repatriated,” Bello said.
He said the agency was able to repatriate more than 50,000 out of the 85,000 stranded OFWs as of Tuesday, June 23.
“Doon sa naiwan po na 85,000, they are considered stranded. Out of this 85,000 nakapagpauwi na kami [as of June 23] ng 59,000, there are more coming, about 42,000,” Bello said.
The official said the agency spent P2.5 billion in cash assistance to OFWs affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
“We were able to extend financial cash assistance in the amount of P2.5 billion at the rate of US200 or P10,000 per OFW, and this is extended to OFWs who are affected by the Covid-19,” he said.
“Kasama rin po ‘yung mga OFW na bagama’t ‘di nawalan ng trabaho, hindi makapagtrabaho dahil sa naka lockdown o naka quarantine,” he added.
Bello said the department needs an additional budget after more than 500,000 OFWs applied for the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp).
“In the past three months, the DOLE, acting on its mandate, as well as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, extended emergency employment and subsidies, to more than a million formal and informal workers,” Bello said.
“Ang problema Mr. Chair, ang nag apply for this assistance is more than 500,000 kaya kakapusin kami niyan, so we plan to ask for additional allocation,” he added.
Camp, which was introduced on March 17, was criticized by members of Defend Jobs Philippines saying that majority of the workforce affected by Covid-19 did not receive any assistance from DOLE.
In a statement, the group asked the agency to provide the names of its beneficiaries. (Jove T. Moya/SunStar Philippines)