Retrenched Filipinos Told To Take Advantage of Livelihood Funds

DUBAI - Migrante Middle East, an alliance of Overseas Filipino Workers’ organisations in the Middle East, has called on Filipinos, who have lost their jobs, to come forward take advantage of the livelihood support funds being handed out by the Philippine government amid the global financial crisis.

By Lily B. Libo-on

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Published: Sat 7 Feb 2009, 1:58 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 9:36 AM

Migrante Middle East Regional Coordinator John Leonard Monterona said the bulk of the support funds come from Filipino expatriates’ contributions to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and, thus, should be availed of for livelihood projects and small-scale businesses.

“The livelihood assistance programme was made possible because of our strong demand and continued campaign to provide relief to laid-off OFWs and their families,” Monterona stressed.

He urged all retrenched workers to pursue with the Department of Labour and Employment and OWWA upon their arrival in Manila to benefit from the livelihood assistance loans being given by the Arroyo administration.

“This is what we have been demanding from the government – to provide assistance to those who are being or will be laid off due to global financial crisis,” he said. The Philippine government, he said, has allocated Php1 billion (Dh1 million) livelihood support funds from the OWWA funds, a compulsory collection of $25 from every Filipino expatriate.

· lily@khaleejtimes.com


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