PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Migrant Workers and other government agencies to provide a “whole-of-government approach” in helping out returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by conflicts in Lebanon and Israel.

In an interview in Malacanang Insider, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac was asked what kind of assistance will be given to the returning OFWs when they arrive in the Philippines.

“Oh, that’s a very good question because I said the President right from the ‘get go’ last October met with all the relevant agencies, met us all and directed us to come together in a whole-of-government approach in terms of assisting returning workers,” Cacdac said.

According to Cacdac, the help extended to returning workers especially those coming from war-torn areas, is unprecedented.

He said the government will be providing financial aid, livelihood assistance, medical services and more when they arrive in the country.

Cacdac said the financial assistance to be provided by DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) would total P150,000 for each returning OFW.

“It used to be P50,000 from DMW and 50,000 on the OWWA side. But last week, the President asked us to review the rates and so we increased from 50 to P75 (thousand pesos) each – so, it would be a P150,000 from DMW-OWWA for returning OFWs from Lebanon. And there will be assistance also,” he said.

Cacdac said the DMW will also provide livelihood assistance.

Since it’s whole-of-government approach, the team of the Department of Health will be there to provide immediate medical checkups and psychosocial counseling to returning OFWs, he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will be providing financial and livelihood assistance, he said.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been providing vouchers to returning OFWs to enable them to choose the training and skills upgrading programs they wish to avail of, Cacdac said.

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Tourism will also provide help to returning OFWs.

“So, the options are all laid before our returning workers. So it’s up to the worker. Mayroon din entrepreneurship training provided by DTI. So, if they are not yet secure enough or at least not prepared to enter into business, we can also put forward training programs for them,” Cacdac said. PCO