DOLE-AKAP Financial Assistance Program Guidelines

DOLE-AKAP Financial Assistance Program Guidelines – If you reside in the Philippines, you will require some financial assistance from time to time. This of course demands that you familiarize yourself with the existing programs and how to leverage them. We are here to help you in starting out with one such.

What is the DOLE-AKAP, who is covered by the scheme, how does one qualify for the same, what are the priority countries, what documentary requirements have to be fulfilled, and what is the application process? We draft this article to provide answers to these and many more relevant questions.

WHAT IS DOLE-AKAP

This is a form of financial assistance program that is aimed at the Overseas Filipino Workers who lost their jobs as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It provides coverage to those who work on both land-based and sea-based jobs. It grants the qualifying persons one-time financial assistance that is equal to PHP 10,000 or $200 or its equivalent in the local currencies at their respective workplaces.

WHO IS COVERED BY DOLE-AKAP?

This scheme covers the following persons:

a.) Regular or documented OFWs

• Those with valid passports, relevant visas, or special permit to live and work abroad
• Persons with employment contracts that are processed by POLO or the POEA

b.) Qualified but undocumented OFWs

• Documented workers who lost this status
• Holders of employment contracts that are not processed by POLO or POEA but have since regularized their status or contracts
• Unregistered with the POEA or whose contracts are unprocessed by POEA but are nonetheless active members of the OWWA at the time of applications

c.) Balik-Manggagawa

• Incapable of reverting to the country due to the ongoing quarantine or lockdown



ELIGIBILITY

You qualify if you satisfy the following preconditions:

a.) You lost your job due to:

• Community quarantine or lockdown
• COVID-19 infections

b.) You are presently:

• Based at an overseas job site
• Within the Philippines in the capacity of Balik-Manggagawa
• Already sent back to the Philippines

c.) You have not yet received any form of financial support from:

• Country of work
• Present employer

READ ALSO: DOLE-TUPAD Emergency Employment Program

PRIORITY COUNTRIES

The programs prioritize these countries that tend to have a higher prevalence rate of COVID-19 or some conspicuous presence of the POLO:

Africa and the Middle East

• Bahrain
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Libya
• Oman
• Qatar
• UAE
• Lebanon
• Saudi Arabia

Asia and the Pacific

• Brunei
• Japan
• Korea
• Macau
• Hong Kong
• Australia
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• New Zealand

Europe and the Americas

• Canada
• Cyprus
• Italy
• Germany
• Greece
• Spain
• Switzerland
• USA
• United Kingdom of Great Britain




DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

a.) Those who presently reside in the affected countries:

• ‘Application for Special Cash Assistance’ form
• Passport or travel documents
• Proof of employment oversees e.g. entry visa, work permit, residence ID, and valid OEC to stay in the host country
• Proof of loss of job owing to the COVID-19 pandemic such as notice of termination, and termination letter.
• For those who were rendered undocumented due to faults not of their own making. Proof need be case endorsement and the case reference numbers.

b.) For the Overseas Filipino Workers presently in the Philippines i.e. the Balik-Manggagawa or those who have been returned already:

• ‘Application for Special Cash Assistance’ form
• Passport or travel documents
• Proof of employment oversees e.g. entry visa, work permit, residence ID, and valid OEC to stay in the host country
• Proof of loss of job owing to the COVID-19 pandemic such as notice of termination, and termination letter.

DOLE-AKAP APPLICATION PROCESS

The steps below will aid with the application processes:

Step I: Tendering of the necessary requirements

You have to tender the whole set of the requirements to the POLO (for those who presently reside abroad) or to the regional welfare offices (for those who are presently based in the Philippines).

Step II: Evaluation

Upon receiving these credentials, the OWWA RWO or POLO shall assess them within some five working days.

Step III: Notification

Upon evaluating these credentials, the said offices shall issue out notifications of the status of the application within another set of five days.

Nonetheless, some applications may not be honored for various reasons like the illegibility of the said schemes, and so on.

Step IV: Disbursements of the financial assistance

In case the application sails through, the DOLE regional office or POLO shall disburse the PHP 10,000 or $200 or its equivalent in the local denominations by way of the money remittance, in case you reside abroad or in the Philippines, bank transfer if you are abroad, or the peso net, if you reside within the Philippines.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FAQs

Q1. How do I claim OWWA financial assistance?

A. To apply for this form of assistance, you are to pay a visit to the Overseas Labor Office of the Philippines in the country you are presently based. Follow the instructions contained on the official website as a way forward.

Q2. Can I still apply for Dole AKAP?

A. YES, but you must meet the stipulations spelled out under the prevailing rules and regulations concerning the matter. These rules keep changing and so you must also keep pace with them to stay abreast and have a successful engagement.

Q3. Who can avail of Dole AKAP?

A. Those who possess an appropriate visa or entry permits, have a valid passport, and have lost their jobs due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are free to apply for the program. They must meet the stringent criteria spelled out though.

Q4. How much is the OWWA membership fee?

A. The membership presently stands at $25.00. It is the one whose contributions entitles the members to the benefits that are stipulated in the various acts that govern it.

Q5. How do I know if I am an OWWA member?

A. Your membership into the scheme lasts generally 2 years. You may check out whether you are still a member in good standing by conferring with the “OWWA Balik-Manggagawa Slip” or the “Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).”

CONCLUSION

We conclude our examination of this wonderful form of financial assistance. All we can now say is that you move with confidence to apply for it if you qualify. It is never advisable that you waste your time on all these. Remember, this program is some kind of a passing cloud as it is only in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic. Waiting too long may only let you find none available!

DOLE-AKAP APPLICATION LINK