The Philippine government will provide financial assistance to Filipino migrant workers whose flights were cancelled due to super typhoon Mangkhut.
On Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released a statement saying that affected Filipino workers would receive cash assistance of PHP5,000 (US$92) and would be required to appear in person at DFA Assistance Desks at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and at Clark International Airport.
Filipino workers wishing to get the cash assistance were asked to submit their airline ticket showing their original date of departure, their reissued ticket showing the new date of departure, their employment contract and overseas employment certificate.
The DFA teams will be at the airports from 10am to 10pm on Monday to cater to stranded Filipino migrant workers.
“Other stranded overseas Filipino workers may claim their cash assistance from the DFA Office of Migrant Workers’ Affairs in Pasay City and all DFA Consular Offices around the country from 8am to 4pm from September 17 to 21,” the DFA said.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced it had allocated PHP100 million (US$1.8 million) to provide financial assistance to Filipino migrant workers and their families affected by the super typhoon, Business Mirror reported.
Hans Cacdac, the administrator of the OWWA, said they are now coordinating with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to implement the Welfare Assistance Program, which was launched in 2016 to provide financial support to the families of Filipino migrant workers in case of medical emergencies or calamities.
“Once we have a complete list of the worst-hit areas in the country, we will provide calamity assistance to the families of our Filipino migrant workers,” Cacdac said.