The government will increase the amount of financial assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in distressed situations under the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo Para Sa Mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Funds.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) issued Department Order No. 05, series of 2024 on Wednesday, August 14, indicating the increased sum of financial assistance for OFWs. The increase in monetary aid will be under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers Act.

Qualified beneficiaries shall receive a one-time immediate cash financial grant from Php 50,000 to Php 100,000, depending on the severity of their cases. In the past, Php 30,000 to Php 50,000 was the amounts offered to all types of distressed OFWs.

The DMW listed the qualifications for the financial aid as follows:

Php 75,000

• OFWs with severe/serious illness, injury, or mental health condition
• OFWs who experience abuse/exploitation resulting in physical disability, injuries, or mental health condition
• OFWs displaced due to war, political unrest and/or other extraordinary circumstances
• Next of kind of OFWs in death row

Php 50,000

• OFWs severely affected and/or displaced due to economic downturn/recession in the host country, bankruptcy of the company/employer, involuntary separation from employment due to retrenchment or downsizing, closure or cessation of operation, redundancy
• OFWs who are victims of abuse, exploitation, maltreatment, or contract violations
• OFWs who are victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking
• OFWs who are victims of natural calamities in the host countries
• Next of kin of incarcerated OFWs serving their sentence

To request financial assistance, the required documents stated under Department Order No. 05, Series of 2023 should be submitted on-site through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), or to the DMW if the employee is in the Philippines, within one year after the arrival in the country.