Angara: OWWA law provides benefits to OFWs repatriated from Afghanistan

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated from Afghanistan are entitled to various benefits and assistance to help them while they are sorting out their lives, according to Senator Sonny Angara.

As the sponsor and author of Republic Act 10801 or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Act of 2016, Angara said the repatriated Filipinos from the conflict-ridden Afghanistan will have something to fall back on while waiting for their next deployment or if they decide to stay in the country.

“Isinulong natin ang batas na ito upang matugunan ang mga problemang pinagdadaanan ng ating mga OFWs tuwing may hindi inaasahang pangyayari sa mga bansang kanilang kinalalagyan tulad ng nangyayari ngayon sa Afghanistan,” the chair of the Senate finance committee said.

“Handa ang ating OWWA upang tulungan ang mga apektadong Pilipino na makauwi sa Pilipinas at mabigyan sila ng kabuhayan dito sa bansa,” Angara added.

After Taliban forces managed to occupy the Afghanistan capital of Kabul, the Department of Foreign Affairs raised Alert Level 4 over the country and directed the mandatory evacuation of all Filipinos there.

Of the 130 Filipinos in Afghanistan, 32 have already been evacuated according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Another 19 are set to leave immediately.

Under the law, according to Angara, OWWA will be tasked with the reintegration of the affected OFWs into Philippine society.

Apart from conducting training and seminars for OFWs, OWWA also provides job referrals and livelihood assistance, depending on their qualifications.

The reintegration program also involves the provision of low-interest loans for the repatriated OFWs through the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines to support enterprise development.

Dependents and beneficiaries of the OFW member are also entitled to educational assistance through the Education for Development Scholarship Program and the Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)