The Catholic Church’s migrants ministry is planning to give financial assistance to some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Father Restituto Ogsimer of the Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People said the program is for land-based and sea-based OFWs who did not receive cash aid from the government.
Initially, about a thousand OFWs will receive the financial assistance by June.
He said land-based OFWs will receive at least Php5,000, while sea-based OFWs will receive a cash voucher worth Php4,000.
“This is just for distressed and displaced OFWs who did not receive financial aid from any government agencies,” said the priest.
The short term project is a collaborative work of several dioceses, religious orders, and the Vatican’s migrants and refugees section.
He said the Church is also looking at providing community-based support system for returning OFWs and their families.
