KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) recently released financial aid to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) seeking payment for unpaid wages in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2016.
OWWA 12 regional director Marilou Sumalinog said 36 OFWs composed the first batch of beneficiaries under their new program called the Humanitarian Assistance for OFWs with Saudi Claims (HASC).
Each OFW received P10,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and an additional P5,000 from OWWA.
Sumalinog said HASC is a special financial intervention of the government to OFWs affected by the closure of construction companies and establishments such as Saudi Oger Ltd., Mohammad Al Mojil Group of Companies, and others from 2015 to 2016.
This is also in response to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide assistance to repatriated migrant workers while waiting for the settlement of their claims from Saudi labor courts.
“The agency hopes that our OFW beneficiaries would successfully make something sustainable out of grant provided to them and their hard-earned money during their work abroad. Rest assured that the agency will be with them every step of the way and will continue to promote and protect the welfare and interest of our modern heroes,” Sumalinog said.
To avail of the HASC Program, interested and qualified applicants are advised to apply online through https://hasc.owwa.gov.ph/. (PIA XII)
