Last year, the Department of Labor and Employment promised a one-time USD200.00 or Php10,000.00 financial assistance program.
The monetary aid is aimed at land-based and sea-based workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seafarers and OFWs waited patiently for the guidelines that they (DOLE) recently released last April 09.
UPDATE!!
If you already filed an application for financial assistance but haven’t received feedback from OWWA or DOLE-AKAP, kindly skip to the last part.
There are a few things you can do to check the status of your application. I also had that difficulty but managed to solve it and got my financial assistance.
Hope this will be useful to you also.
Are you Qualified for Financial Assistance?
DOLE has set out guidelines as to which overseas workers are covered and eligible for financial aid.
Before jumping on the bandwagon, you might want to check them out if you are entitled to the one-time Php10,000.00 cash assistance.
Coverage
The Department Order generally covers three types of overseas workers.
1. Regular/documented OFWs as defined in the 2016 Revised Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Rules and Regulations refers to those:
- Regular or documented OFWs are those who possess a valid passport and appropriate visa or permit to stay and work in the receiving country; and
- Whose contract of employment has been processed by the POEA or the POLO.
2. Qualified Undocumented OFWs
- Those who were originally regular or documented workers, but for some reason or cause have thereafter lost their regular or documented status;
- OFWs who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts were not processed by POEA or the POLO, but have undertaken actions to regularize their contracts or status; or
- Those who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts were not processed by POEA or the POLO, but are active OWWA members at the time of availment.
3. Balik-Manggagawa who are unable to return to the host country in view of its lockdown due to COVID-19.
Eligibility
While the coverage defines the types of overseas workers legally working abroad, eligibility sets the condition if you are displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
An OFW or Seafarer must experience one of these:
- Experienced job displacement due to the receiving country’s imposition of lockdown or community quarantine or having been infected by the disease.
- Must be still at overseas job sites, or in the Philippines as Balik-Manggagawa, or already repatriated to the Philippines; and
- Must not receive any financial support/assistance from the receiving countries/ employers.
In my previous post regarding the news of the Php10K cash aid, you can also find more information regarding what Sec. Bello said about the DOLE-AKAP program.
It’s also listed there the priority countries or territories for on-site OFWs.
Application Procedure
Now for the part that everyone is waiting for. These are the requirements needed to verify if you are entitled to the Php10,000.00 financial assistance.
Also mentioned below are the steps in processing/ submitting your requirements including the process for releasing your financial aid.
For On-site OFWs (Land-based)
1. OFWs shall submit the following to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO):
- Accomplished Application Form for Special Cash Assistance downloadable at the POLO’s website or social media account;
- Copy of Passport or travel document;
- Proof of overseas employment. Examples are valid verified overseas employment, OEC, residence I.D.s, visa/ re-entry visa, among others, or permit to stay in the receiving country;
- Proof of loss of employment on account of COVID-19; and
- For OFWs who became undocumented through no fault of their own, proof that the OFW is currently involved in an ongoing case (e.g. case reference number, case endorsement stamped by POLO, among others)
2. After submission of complete documents, POLOs shall evaluate your submission. They will notify OFWs of the status of his/ her application within 5 working days.
3. If approved, the concerned POLO shall release the USD200.00 through bank transfer/ money remittance.
For OFWs Who Have Been Repatriated/ Balik-Manggagawa
1. OFWs who have been repatriated to the Philippines and Balik-Manggagawa shall submit the following.
Remember that DOLE-AKAP assistance observes the stringent guidelines on social distancing.
Therefore, they urge applicants to submit the requirements online using their website.
- Accomplished Application Form for Special Cash Assistance downloadable at https://dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph/. The website can only be accessed in the Philippines. Otherwise, you will get an error if you access it from abroad.
- Copy of Passport or travel document;
- Proof of overseas employment i.e. valid verified overseas employment, OEC, residence I.D.s, visa/ re-entry visa, among others, or permit to stay in the receiving country;
- Copy of flight ticket or boarding pass or arrival stamp/ sticker attached to the passport.
- Proof of loss of employment on account of COVID-19.
Next Simple Steps
Personal information is required to identify the individual. Just fill them out honestly and click “Next“.
Equally important are your documents like your Passport, OEC, airline ticket, or any proof that you are displaced by COVID-19.
This will help speed up the process.
2. Additionally, RWOs shall evaluate your application within 5 working days after submission of complete documents.
3. During the validation or verification process, OWWA Officers may call you through your contact details or FB account. Be ready to show the actual documents if so required.
4. If approved, the concerned DOLE regional Office shall release the Php10,000.00 through money remittance/ Peso Net.
Here are the actual documents I submitted:
Record Added Successfully
After submitting those documents, I received a confirmation saying that my application was recorded successfully.
The next part is waiting for your cash assistance to be credited.
After evaluation and approval from RWOs, the money is sent to the recipient via Palawan Express, MLhuillier, LBC or bank transfer.
Following Up Your Financial Assistance
A few days after I submitted my application, I received an email from OWWA verifying the documents I submitted.
I attached the same files listed above and sent them back through their email.
After resending my documents, I didn’t receive their email or SMS so I followed up by replying to the email.
Luckily, they responded with the tracking number of my cash assistance through MLhuillier.
Another method of tracking your DOLE AKAP financial assistance is to head over to https://doleakaptracker.owwa.gov.ph/.
Just fill out the required details and you will know at which stage is your application.
Some seafarers and OFWs already received their financial assistance from DOLE-AKAP. Hope you receive your financial aid now, Kabayan!
May the winds be in your favor.
A family man, he loves writing, reading, investing, and watching the golden hours while sailing.
Hello sir.
Once na approved po ba how many working days para makuha yung cash assistance
Yung sakin sir 1 week. sa iba mas matagal. follow up nyo lang kung after 1 week di nyo pa narereceive..
Hi Gibi, sa case ko OFW ako at nakapag file nako at na approve na last year pa. Kaya lang andito ako sa pinas at pinapakuha sa kin sa Kuwait. Then sinabiko nga andito ako sa pinas at sabi i turn over nalang daw sa owwa dtio malapit sa pampanga.. ano po dapat gawin? from now wala pang feedback from owwa or polo kuwait.
Hello Maam Raquel. Coordinate nyo po ang local OWWA Office na malapit sa inyo para mafollow up ung sinabi ng POLO Kuwait.
Good day po. Approved na po ako sa application po pero paanu makuha yun cash assistance po ? Slamat po
GODBLESS
Hintayin nyo lang po text or email nila para makuha ang claiming details.
Good day,
San ako pupunta if malaman kong denied ung claims ko? I tried repplaying or refiling my application pero it says na “application already submitted” or something like that.
Salamat sa sagot, God bless
Replyan nyo po email nila sir or contact your nearest OWWA Office and ask for specific info bakit denied claims nyo. Then icomply nyo lang po iyon.
Hi sir, paano po ako makakuha ng financial assistance? Nka ilang beses npo akong ng fillup ng form pero dinied parin po ang aplication ko, wala pa po akong natatangap na financial assistance.sana matulongan nyo po ako.
Tanungin mo ang OWWA sir kung bakit ka denied nila. Tapos icomply mo ung mga hinihingi nila para maka-avail ka sa financial assistance
hello po. nagfill-up ako ng form tapos pagclick ako sa next button, magred yong contact number, nagtry ako ibang number, ganun pa din. ano po contact number ilagay dun? thank you.
Hi sir. Kindly check your phone entry’s format- 090xxxxxxxx or +639xxxxxxxxx or 639xxxxxxxxx.
sir ganun din problema ko..hindi sya magnext..sinubukan ko na 63935xxxxxxx at 0935xxxxxxx..ayaw talaga..
Sir okay naman sa aking. subukan nyo ibang browser or ibang phone..
It’s been 2 weeks since i have submitted the application for my DOLEAKAP but I haven’t received anything from owwa or DOLE since then.
Hello. Patience. I receive mine in about 2 months.
Hi good day! Follow up for DOLE CASH ASSISTANCE… Sana po tulungan nyo po aq.. salamat po God bless!! Laki pung tulong to sa pamilya q po kung ma bigyan po nyo aq…
Name: MACHIEL JUNE GAMANA PURACAN
Birthday: JUNE 30,1990
Contact Number: 09772300438
Application Date: JANUARY 9,2021
Dole-akap application number: 435258
Hello sir. Dun po kayo magsfollow up sa local or nearest owwa office nyo.
paano po kng deny , pero yun ibang kasamahan ko approved nmn.what next move pwd gawin
Submit ka lang uli ng requirements sir at icomply mo kung aling doc requirements ka nagkulang.
Bakit hindi hind po natatanggap yung 10k financial nakapag registered napo ako
Follow up nyo lang sir thru email.
hi sir/maam good pm po nag submit na po ako ng application ko last december 3, 2020 update kulang po kung ano na po status sa financial assistance ko po..thanks po
Kindly contact DOLE-AKAP directly.
Follow up ko sana dole-akap financial assistance submitted 24 dec. 2020
Hi po ask ko lang po. Nag pass po kami requirment, at sabe sa tracker. Released na daw po. Automatic pobang isesend nila sa bank acc. Or mag eemail po sila? Wala pa po kasing email samin e.
Hello Maam. If yung option sa pagreceive ng pera ehh thru bank transfeer, automatic po un mccredit at magttext or email sila. Monitor your balance nlang po.
Any advice po bakit hindi successful pag nag submit po ako.lahat po ng details nka filled up po.
Nareceived ko na po yung ML code..pero pwedi po ba ,wife ko po ang mag claim ,bigay lng ako ng authorazation..nakaalis na kasi ako ng pinas..huli na nila inaproved..
Bigay ka lang authorization letter sir.
Yun po mga umuwi na mga seafarer kasama po dito sa cash assistance?
Yung affected lng sa COVID sir as long as mcomply nila requirements
ako po ma’am hnd parin nka tanggap ng cash assistance nag heck nman ako ang sabi on quation..patulong po sana ako sa inyo po ma’am kung pwde… Maraming salamat po
ganyan din sakin sir.. kaya lang po hindi makuha ni misis.. ayaw po ibigay.. kelangan ako daw po mismo kumuha.. may authorization.. valid id marriage contract din po.. ano po dapat gawin?
Sir ask ko lang kasi nag register ako for akap lahat ng kailangan na documents is na pasa na sa website but the problem is nag verified recapcha siya di ma submit sa website ng akap
Hello po ng-apply ako ng dole akap at successful na yong application po.but hanging ngayon wla pa po silang email sakin.ano po ang gagawin ko.
Check nyo status ng application sir sa tracker.
Hello naka submit nako sa application for DOLE-AKAP, ngano wala pay reply? unsay problema?
Hello. Seaman Memories is not affiliated with DOLE or any government agency. The article is for informational purposes only.
However, you may try to use these contact details to reach some of their offices.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
Hello po nakapag submit na po ako pero wala pa akung natatangap na reply pano po ma followup?
Hello. Seaman Memories is not affiliated with DOLE or any government agency. The article is for informational purposes only.
However, you may try to use these contact details to reach some of their offices.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
its been 3 weeks since i have submitted my application to Dole-akap, But until now I haven’t yet recieved any information from OWWA, if my application was in under of process.
Hello you may try to use these contact details.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
Hi I went to M Lhuiller with an authorization letter from my fiancee to claim his financial assistance on hids behalf but as per staff nag ML di daw
Tanungin nyo ang ML maam kung paano mclaim yun and you can also contact DOLE-AKAP thru OWWA regional Office regarding that.
Sir ma’am follow up kolang po Yung sa DOLE akap owwa ko nakapag fill-up Napo ako Ng application kailan po matatangap Yung 10k na ibibigay niyo
Hello. Seaman Memories is not affiliated with DOLE or any government agency. The article is for informational purposes only.
However, you may try to use these contact details to reach some of their offices.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
Wala pa ring text para ma claim ko ung 10k ko kahit na na released na daw batay sa tracker.
Hello ask lang po nag file me nung April and approved released na po. Released na po sya nung June 24.. Need ko po update ung contact cp# ko don. Pwede po ba palitan ung cp # ko don? Kac ung cp # na nakalagay po don is nawala po..so saan or pano ko po update cp# ko don. Sana po mahelp nyo ako. Thanks and God bless..
No need to update na sir once nreceive nyo na ang assistance.
i already submitted all the requirements and got an email from COVID ASSISTANCE and they told me that they will contact me but until now no one contacted me how can i possibly reach them so i can follow up
Hello you may try to use these contact details.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
It’s been 2 weeks since i have submitted the application for my DOLEAKAP but I haven’t received anything from owwa or DOLE since then.
Hello you may try to use these contact details.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
YES THERE WAS NO CLEAR CRITERIA FOR THE SEAFARERS WHOSE THEIR APPLICATION IS ON THE WAY LIKE THEY FINISHED ALL THE TRAININGS REQUIREMENT AND MEDICAL IS DONE AND SUBMITTED TO THE AGENCY, THE PROCESSING OF THEIR CONTRACTS AND WORK ARE ALSO SUSPENDED AND THEY ARE DISPLACED WORKER, THEY HAVE TO GET CASH AID ASSISTANCE TOO.
Hello kindly refer to dole-akap website and complete the required information including the documents needed. They will review your application whether you are entitled for the financial assistance.
hello hindi po ako makaupload ng file.. lagi nalabas lang yung must be png jpeg pdf only.. pero ganun naman format nung file na nilalagay ko..
Check nyo lang po ulit maam baka masyadong matraffic website nila sa sobrang dami ng nagcclaim.
Hi, I already fill up the application form from DOLE AKAP last april 21, on that day I received a system generated message, since then I didn’t received any message from OWWA. I hope we here from your side. Thanks.
Hello. Seaman Memories is not in any way affiliated with DOLE-AKAP or OWWA. The article is only for guidance and informational purposes. However, you may wish to follow up your concerns directly to OWWA.
You may try to use these contact details.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
If the seafarer can’t process their document due to covid19 and their agency temporary close because of lockdown,is the safarer entitled to get cash assistance from dole?
Please visit dole-akap website and provide all the information required. DOLE will evaluate your documents and assess if you are entitled for the 10K financial assistance.
Hi,
Can I possibly know what email address the application should be sent to?
Thanks, Vic
Just fill in the details from the dole-akap website and once completed, they will be the ones to contact you within a week.
Dear Sir/madam,
Goodday to you.. I applied the Dole-Owwa financial assistance since April 20. Four days after I rcvd. the confirmation.. telling me that still in verification process. But until now, no further msg rcvd. in my email address mycel_exclamado@yahoo.com about the outcome..kindly assist/ attend. My new phone no. 09150156708 & 09474058629. I’m from region 8 but presently stay in Malate, Manila.. Thanks in advance..
Hello. Seaman Memories is not affiliated with DOLE or any government agency. The article is for informational purposes only.
However, you may try to use these contact details to reach some of their offices.
OWWA Region 10
2/F Trinidad Bldg., Corrales Ave. Cor. Yacapin Sts.,
9000 Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: (08822)-722-863/728-341/ (088) 857-5723/ 857-6511
Hotline: HP 0917-548-0033/ Email: owwa_rwo10@yahoo.com / region10@owwa.gov.ph
OWWA Region 8
region8@owwa.gov.ph
Follow up