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| Many of those who line up at the Polo offices are stranded workers applying for financial help |
The distribution of the US$200 “Akap” financial assistance
from the Philippine government called to overseas Filipino workers displaced by
the pandemic in Hong Kong remains suspended because
funding has dried up.
This is according to Assistant Labor Attache Angelica Sunga,
in response to queries and complaints from some overseas Filipino workers who
were told starting on Aug 13 that the applications to the cash assistance had
been stopped temporarily.
“We are still waiting for the requested additional funding
which will be allocated for the pending approved applications,” ALA Sunga told
The SUN.
She said all applications were temporarily suspended as of
the same day as they were awaiting new guidelines from the Department of Labor
and Employment in the Philippines
Sunga said the Akap fund, which used to be disbursed by the
Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong ,
will now be transferred to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
She said then that they were hoping to start accepting applications
again after a week, but this did not happen, most likely because the
supplemental funding has yet to come through.
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| ALA Angel says application for Akap will open again once fresh funding is received from Manila |
When asked about recent post by an OFW who claimed to have just received her Akap payout, Sunga said the worker probably did not immediately pick up the money that had been sent through the bank before the suspension.
She also verified reports that some applicants who were desperate to get the money were offered $500, but said this was just to tide them over. She said the OFWs could still file a claim for the full Akap fund when they get back to the Philippines.
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One of those who have been waiting to get the financial
assistance is Baby Jean de Leon, who was forced to quit her job three months
ago, but only recently decided to apply for Akap.
De Leon, who is an active community leader and administrator
of the online group, Domestic Workers Corner, said the financial assistance
which converts to $1,540, would be a big help as she had to spend a lot for
food and lodging while waiting for her new work visa.
Another hopeful applicant is Kate, who was forced to call in
the police on Aug 3 after being prevented from taking a day off since she
arrived in Hong Kong in January.
Kate is struggling to make ends meet while pursuing her
labour claim against her former employer. She has also filed a report with
Immigration for her forced detention and the alleged verbal abuse she suffered at
the hands of her elderly employer and her married son.
With Philippine Congress having finally approved the
Bayanihan 2 funding that the government had requested to respond to the
continuing backlash from the pandemic, their wait might be over soon.
Of the Php140billion that will be made available for use by
the government under this law, Php820million has been allocated for helping
overseas Filipino workers.
The next week or so will show whether this money will
trickle overseas, specifically to OFWs in Hong Kong who remain stranded, or are
desperately trying to stay so they can move on to new jobs and continue
providing for their families back home.
