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| OWWA officials process the calamity assistance for Ilocos Norte members at the Provincial Capitol cafeteria. (OWWA) |
San Fernando City, La Union—After typhoon Mangkhut [Ompong] hit Ilocos Region last month, the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) gave Calamity Assistance to OFW-OWWA members and their qualified dependents who were severely affected by the typhoon.
OWWA, through its Welfare Assistance Program (WAP), gave assistance amounting to PHP3,000 for active OWWA members and PHP1,500 for inactive members.
Since the whole region was placed under a state of calamity during the typhoon, OWWA RWOI together with the local government of each provinces has to identify the top municipalities and cities that were hardly hit by the typhoon thus giving priority with the calamity assistance.
In Ilocos Norte, the processing for the calamity assistance was held on September 25-28 and October 4-6, 2018 at Provincial Capitol Cafeteria. OFW-members and qualified dependents who were residents of Batac City, Currimao and Pagudpud were able to claim their benefits.
On the other hand, the schedule for calamity assistance in Candon City, Ilocos Sur was on October 17-18, 2018 while Vigan City was on October 19-20, 2018. It was held on Candon City Hall and Ilocos Sur Capitol, respectively.
As of October 22, 2018, a total of PHP7,872,000 was released to 3,294 OFW-member recipients. PHP4,671,000 was released in Ilocos Norte and PHP3,201,000 in Ilocos Sur.
OWWA’s WAP Calamity Assistance is a one-time cash relief to affected OFW-members and their qualified dependents in areas under state of calamity. Aside from Ilocos Region, OWWA CAR and OWWA Region 2 are also giving calamity assistance to OFW members and their qualified dependents who were also affected by typhoon Ompong. (OWWA Region I)