ILOILO CITY, Dec. 8 (PNA) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Western Visayas has disbursed around Php2.09 million for three separate programs intended to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents to establish their own business.
OWWA regional director Ron Lionel Bartolome said Php1.044 million intended for livelihood assistance was extended to dependents of active overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who died while they are on contract abroad.
He said that dependents are granted Php15,000 livelihood assistance for them to start a business after losing their primary breadwinner.
He added that as of November, a total of 72 dependents were granted the said benefit.
The livelihood assistance program is on top of the death benefit given to the OWWA member, amounting to Php100,000 for those who died of natural causes and Php200,000 for accidental death.
Meantime , the welfare administration also extended trainings to 17 OFWs under the Balik Pinas Program that caters to distressed OFWs who failed to finish their contract. Funds released for the program totaled to Php170,000.
Moreover, OWWA’s skills for employment scholarship program has benefited 82 OFWs and fund released was Php881,700.
The skills for employment scholarship program is open to vacationing OFWs or their dependents. The training is being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) or its accredited training centers. (PNA)