CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — A total of P1.930 million in financial assistance was awarded by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office to 97 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Isabela province as part of the agency’s continuing commitment to support the welfare of Filipino workers abroad and their families.
The financial assistance was distributed through OWWA City of Ilagan Sub-Office and the One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO) in Santiago City, serving as accessible satellite offices that cater to the various needs of OFWs in the region.
The distribution ceremonies were led by OWWA officer-in-charge Alma Gammad, welfare officer Almira Managuelod, and family welfare officer Leo Velasco, who personally handed over the assistance to the beneficiaries and assured them of the agency’s continued support.
At the City of Ilagan Sub-Office, 58 OFWs were granted a total of P601,000 under the Welfare Assistance Program (WAP), a program designed to provide immediate support to active or inactive OWWA members and their families during times of financial distress, health emergencies, and other crises.
In addition, P680,000 in social benefits, including death and burial assistance, was released to the families of two OFWs, providing them crucial financial relief in times of grief and hardship.
Meanwhile, at the OSSCO in Santiago City, 37 OFWs were awarded a total of P409,000 also under the WAP, while an additional P240,000 was released to two OFWs under the Insurance Claims Fund (ICF), a financial benefit extended to qualified claimants in the event of accident, disability, or loss.
In her message during the awarding, Gammad emphasized that OWWA remains steadfast in fulfilling its mandate of protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers.
She noted that the establishment of sub-offices across the region allows the agency to be closer to its clients, ensuring faster processing of claims and a more compassionate approach to service delivery.
“OWWA is here not only to provide financial aid but also to extend care, compassion, and sustained support to our modern-day heroes and their families,” Gammad said.
Beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude for the timely support, sharing how the assistance would help them recover from financial setbacks, cover medical expenses, or support the daily needs of their families.
Some of the recipients, particularly those who received death and burial benefits, shared emotional testimonies about the importance of OWWA’s help during the most difficult times of their lives.
With more Isabeleños seeking work opportunities abroad, OWWA-2 continues to strengthen its programs and services to ensure that the contributions and sacrifices of OFWs do not go unrecognized or unsupported.
For more information about OWWA’s programs, OFWs and their families may visit the nearest OWWA office or access its official website www.owwa.gov.ph and its social media platform at https://www.facebook.com/OWWARegionalWelfareOffice02. (ALM/MGE/PIA Isabela)
