Over 6000 OFWs in Oman received $200 DOLE AKAP

The Philippine Ambassador in Muscat Narciso Castañeda said Tuesday during the Public Briefing #LagingHandaPH hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar and PCOO Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio that more than 6000 OFWs in Oman have received the $200 DOLE AKAP.

Part of the interview transcript is stated below:

SEC. ANDANAR:  Doon naman po sa mga nawalan ng trabaho, nabanggit na po ninyo iyong employment, ano po ang tulong na ibinibigay po ng inyong tanggapan sa kanila. Mayroon po kasing, I believed $200 na benepisyo na puwedeng matanggap mula po sa DOLE. Ito po ba ay naipamahagi na natin?

AMB. CASTAÑEDA:  Sa ngayon, we have 6,700 Filipinos who have availed of the program, itong binibigay ng ating gobyerno and our Philippine Labor Overseas Office here has been very prompt in trying to disburse all these funds available. Medyo, katulad noong last time na kinausap ninyo ako dito sa programa ninyo, siyempre mayroon tayong limited funds, what is available and what is possible to give – pero natutulungan po sila.

USEC. IGNACIO:  Ambassador, pagdating naman po sa programang pinansiyal, iyon pong sinasabi nating DOLE-AKAP for OFWs. Pero gaano na po ba talaga karami iyong nakatanggap ng tulong, base po sa inyong datos diyan?

AMB. CASTAÑEDA:  According to the latest data that was given to me by the POLO office yesterday, 6,450 na ang nabigyan natin ng tulong ng $200 each. And this has been received by them. So, that is the actual amount that has been disbursed.  So, 6,450 times $200 iyon ang lumabas na from the DOLE-AKAP Program. There is a remainder, that’s still has to be disbursed and it will be done quite soon, I’m sure.

Update on COVID-19 among OFWs in Oman

AMB. CASTAÑEDA:  Sa aming mga records, nine Filipinos ang naka-confined dahil sa COVID. Isa pa lang ang namatay, unfortunately medyo severe iyong kanyang kaso, pero iyong mga nine na, na-ospital, five are supposedly out of ICU. The other four are in better condition. So, hindi naman tayo ganoon ka—iyong community natin, hindi naman ganoon ang pinsala ng COVID sa kanila. Iyong ibang mga dayuhan, katulad ng mga mayroong malaking populasyon na dito naman nagtatrabaho, tulad ng Bumbay saka iyong mga workers, mayroon silang mga barracks. Diyan medyo mabilis kumalat iyong COVID kapag may dikit-dikit tapos hindi na nasubaybayan ang nangyayari.