How To Claim COVID-19 Financial Assistance For OFWs, Or DOLE AKAP

3 min read By eCompareMo on April 13, 2020

Heads up to Filipinos who lost their jobs abroad because of the lockdown: DOLE will give you a one-time cash grant through its COVID-19 Financial Assistance for OFWs. Hurry up because funds won’t last long.

Here’s everything you need to know about DOLE-AKAP.

What is DOLE-AKAP?

DOLE-AKAP stands for the Department of Labor and Employment’s “Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong” program. The program will provide one-time cash subsidy to land-based and sea-based overseas workers displaced by a lockdown or community quarantine in a foreign country.

Amount of benefits: P10,000 or $200, or the amount equivalent to the host country’s currency

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the budget is P1.5 billion and is available for the assistance program until it lasts. The funds will be sourced from DOLE COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program.

(Read: How To Apply For The COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP) From DOLE)

Who are eligible for the OFW cash subsidy?

Here are the qualifications for you to apply for DOLE-AKAP:

1. Regular or Documented OFWs

• An overseas worker who has a valid passport and visa/permit to work in the host country, with an employment contract processed by Philippine Overseas Employment A or Philippine Overseas Labor and Office (POLO)

2. Qualified Undocumented OFWs

• An originally regular/documented OFW but have lost their regular/documented status for some reason
• A worker not registered with POEA, has contracts not processed with POEA or POLO, but have done some action to regularize his/her contracts and/or status
• Not registered with POEA, has contracts not processed with POEA or POLO, but active OWWA member

3. Balik Manggagawa or repatriated OFWs

• Workers who are unable to return abroad due to the lockdown in the host country

Conditions to receive the DOLE cash subsidy for OFW

However, you should know that:

• You must be an overseas worker displaced due to the implementation of a lockdown or community quarantine in the host country and/or infected by the novel coronavirus disease
• You must be currently at the job site abroad, staying in the Philippines as a Balik Manggagawa, or repatriated to the Philippines
• Must have not received any financial assistance from your employers or host countries.

(Read: How To Avail Of The DSWD’s Social Amelioration Program)

Prioritized countries or territories for DOLE financial assistance

Here is the list of countries placed in priority for financial assistance:

The Middle East and Africa

Qatar

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Bahrain
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Oman
• Qatar

Europe and America

New Zealand

• U.S.
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Spain
• Germany
• Cyprus
• Switzerland
• Greece

Asia and Australia

• Korea
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
• Japan
• Singapore
• Macau
• Brunei
• Malaysia
• Australia
• New Zealand

Documentary requirements for OFWs’ COVID-19 cash grant

For on-site OFWs:

• “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” application form (which can be downloaded at the official social media account or website of their designated POLO website and/or social media account)
• Passport and/or travel documents (photocopy)
• Proof of employment abroad (residence ID, valid OEC, visa, or reentry-visa)
• Proof of loss of employment (due to COVID-19)
• Proof of a pending case causing their current “undocumented status” (POLO-stamped case, case reference number)

For repatriated OFWs:

• “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” application form (which can be downloaded at the official website of DOLE)
• Passport and/or travel documents
• Proof of employment abroad (residence ID, valid OEC, visa, or reentry-visa)
• Proof of loss of employment (due to COVID-19)

How to apply for DOLE-AKAP

For on-site OFWs

1. Duly accomplish the form and submit all the requirements to the POLOs.
2. Upon receipt of the requirements, POLO will assess the application and notify the OFW applicant within 5 business days.
3. If approved, the corresponding POO will disburse the $200 via money remittance or bank transfer.

For Balik Manggagawa and repatriated OFWs

1. Duly accomplish the form and submit all the requirements to the OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWO).
2. Upon receipt of the requirements, RWO will assess the application and notify the OFW applicant within 5 business days.
3. If approved, the corresponding DOLE Regional Office will disburse the P10,000 via money remittance or Peso Net.

For further questions about AKAP, you may contact DOLE directly.