Dubai: All Filipino amnesty seekers here, regardless of their status with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who will go home for good will receive cash amounting to $100 (Dh367) from the Philippine government.
This is in addition to amnesty seekers who are eligible OWWA members: they are also entitled to an additional livelihood assistance from the agency amounting to Php20,000 (about Dh1,500 or $375), said officials.
The $100 cash for all amnesty seekers is aimed to help ease their transition, Philippine Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes announced on Monday.
He added that the Philippine government will release the funds to Filipinos (except minors) availing of the UAE’s amnesty programme who will return to their country.
'Humble amount'
“The welfare assistance is a humble amount that the Philippine government had allocated to our returning nationals who have availed of the amnesty programme.
"We hope that this could provide some sort of a buffer to put a smile on their faces as they return home and be reuntied with their families and start a new life in the Philippines, ” Cortes said.
The first mass repatriation of Filipino amnesty seekers is scheduled on August 15. Cortes said Deputy Consul-General Renato Duenas Jr will accompany the 98 Filipinos, including six minors, scheduled on that flight.
They have been advised to come to Dubai International Airport as early as 1pm to receive the cash assistance from consulate officials.
Highest-ranking officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will be at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to welcome the returning nationals.
Welfare assistance
Cortes said the welfare assistance for returning nationals comes from the Assistance-To-Nationals Fund of the DFA.
Aside from the cash assistance, the Philippine government is also paying for all the exit fees of Filipinos who intend to come home, including their one-way air tickets to Manila and to their provinces.
More details to follow.
