Being one of the countries heavily affected by calamities and natural disasters on a regular basis, the Philippines naturally sustains casualties and damages. Luckily, Filipinos, particularly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), have always been resilient. They also always have the government to back them up and show support in times of unexpected need. OFWs, in particular, have the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to offer assistance and help with recovery efforts in times of calamities.
In this guide, we looked into one of the benefits of their OWWA membership—the privilege to seek and receive financial or livelihood assistance and training to help them bounce back in times of unexpected events through the calamity assistance benefit of the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP).
What are the OWWA Calamity Benefits?
The OWWA Calamity Benefit is one of the many provisions of the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) that the agency offers to its members.
Under the program, both active and inactive OWWA members and their qualified dependents who are still ineligible for regular OWWA social benefits may avail of one-time cash assistance if they are affected by natural or human-induced calamities or disasters.
It is a special program offered by OWWA as one of the four benefits that they can avail under the WAP. It is available to all OWWA member-OFWs, though the amount of cash aid that they can receive may vary depending on the situation and the damages sustained. It is made available to qualified beneficiaries residing in areas where a State of Calamity is declared by either the Local Government Unit (LGU) or the Office of the President.
The program offers Php 1,000.00 to Php 3,000.00 to help supplement their income as they try to recover and bounce back after becoming victims of typhoons or other types of calamities.
OWWA Calamity Benefits
As a social program designed to help OFWs, the WAP offers calamity assistance, which offers the following benefits:
- Monetary assistance ranging from Php 1,000.00 to Php 3,000.00 for OFWs and their family members who suffered due to natural or man-made disasters in areas where a state of calamity has been declared.
- Additional assistance from the government
Qualifications
To qualify for the calamity benefits, the claimants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be an OWWA member, active or otherwise
- Must have suffered from calamities or other types of disasters
- Must reside in areas where either the LGU or the Office of the President has declared a state of calamity
- Must have experience any kind of calamities like typhoon or earthquake or disasters like war in their place
Requirements
To get ahold of the OWWA Calamity benefits, OFWs and his or her eligible dependents must present the following documentary requirements:
For OFW claimants of the Calamity Assistance
- Photocopy of at least two (2) valid IDs, preferably the OWWA ID
- 2 x 2 ID picture of the OFW
- Barangay Certificate to prove that claimant is a resident of the disaster/emergency affected community
- If victim of fire incident, secure Certification
- A completely filled out claim form declaring that no other OFW-family member had already availed of the assistance offered
- Active bank account
If the claimant is the spouse of the OFW:
- Photocopy of their marriage contract
- A duly accomplished claim form declaring that no other OFW-family member had already availed of the assistance offered
- 2 x 2 ID picture
- A photocopy of at least two (2) valid IDs with address
If the claimant is an unmarried child of the OFW who is of legal age:
- Photocopy of his/her birth certificate
- A duly accomplished claim form declaring that no other OFW-family member had already availed of the assistance offered
- 2 x 2 ID picture
- A photocopy of a valid ID with address
If the claimant is the guardian of the OFW’s child who is a minor:
- Authorization letter from the OFW
- Photocopy of the birth certificate of the OFW’s (minor) child
- A duly accomplished claim form declaring that no other OFW-family member had already availed of the assistance offered
- 2 x 2 ID picture of the claimant
- A photocopy of a valid ID/passport with address of the claimant
If the claimant is the parent of an unmarried OFW:
- Photocopy of the birth certificate of the OFW
- A duly accomplished claim form declaring that no other OFW-family member had already availed of the assistance offered
- 2 x 2 ID picture of the claimant
- A photocopy of a valid ID/passport with address of the claimant
If the claimant is the sibling of the unmarried OFW:
- Authorization letter from the OFW
- Photocopy of the birth certificate of the OFW and the claimant
- A duly accomplished claim form
- 2 x 2 ID picture of the claimant
- A photocopy of a valid ID/passport with address of the OFW and claimant
Once the documentary requirements are complete, you can start initiating your application starting with the application form online.
Procedures for Claiming OWWA Calamity Benefits
To claim the OWWA calamity assistance benefit, make sure to follow these steps to avoid any inconvenience in claiming for it. There are two ways to do so.
Via the OWWA Website (Online)
One way is to go online, via the OWWA website.
- Visit OWWA calamity assistance application page via the link: https://calamity.owwa.gov.ph to access the online application form.
- Fill in all the personal details about the OFW.
- Name
- Birthdate
- Gender
- Passport number
- Civil status
- Contact number,
- Email address
- Facebook account
- Address
- Name of the claimant
- If the applicant is the OFW: select “SELF” and input the OFW’s name.
- If the applicant is a beneficiary of the OFW: select the fitting relationship.
- Click “Next” to go to the next page where you will see more instructions on how to submit your application.
- On the next page, select “Choose File” and attach a 2×2 ID photo of the applicant.
- Upload the following documentary requirements:
- OFW’s passport
- Claimant or applicant’s valid ID
- Supplementary documents to prove relationship to the OFW
- Submit the application form, and wait for the message confirming the successful recording of your application.
- Wait for your application to be confirmed by the OWWA evaluator.
Via the OWWA Office
If you don’t wish to do these things online, then you have the option to visit any OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO), OWWA Satellite Office, or if you are out of the country, any POLO Office. Simply follow these steps:
- Secure an appointment to the OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) for local applications or at the POLO OWWA office in your country of employment, for applicants abroad by:
- Using the appointment scheduler on the OWWA website (appointment.owwa.gov.ph).
- Using the appointment scheduler on the OWWA Mobile App.
- On the day of the appointment, visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) or POLO Office which covers the permanent address of the OFW.
- Get priority number (ticket), and wait for your turn to be accommodated.
- Present OFW I.D. or info to the Membership Verification Desk, based on status of membership; obtain application form and checklist of requirements.
- Submit accomplished claim form and required documents for validation / evaluation.
- For approved applications, proceed to present claim stub and claim financial assistance through check or cash pay-out.
You may also opt to visit the nearest OWWA Satellite Office for further inquiries about the program. They will provide you more information on how to claim your calamity benefit through your municipality, if the application is approved.
Important Reminders
For those who are interested in the OWWA Calamity benefits, here are a few things worth keeping in mind:
- The OWWA Calamity benefits under the Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) is not a loan.
- It is a one-time cash aid and claimants are not required to pay anything back to OWWA.
- Valid IDs and active bank accounts are required to avail of this benefit.
- If OWWA distributes the fund in cash, a bank account is not required.
- The signatures on the OFW’s valid ID, passport and authorization letter must be identical.
- Like other OWWA programs, application for the calamity assistance can be done either through their website, or via appointment to your nearest OWWA or POLO Offices.
- The payout will be scheduled per municipality after thorough evaluation and approval of applications.
- OWWA releases a list of qualified severely affected municipalities, when application for calamity assistance opens.
Understanding the OWWA Calamity Assistance Program
To learn more about the OWWA Calamity benefits, you may watch this explainer video uploaded by Youtuber Lihbay San Juan.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may also check out the following questions and answers related to the calamity assistance benefits from OWWA.
1. What is the OWWA Calamity Assistance?
It is a benefit afforded by OWWA to its members under the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) that aims to offer a one-time no commitment cash aid to OFWs and their dependents who are affected by calamities.
2. Who is qualified for the Calamity Assistance?
Under the WAP, active or inactive OWWA member OFWs may avail of the one-time calamity assistance as long as they satisfy all the other conditions of the program.
3. How much cash assistance is given to qualified applicants?
The program offers cash aid ranging from Php 1,000.00 to Php 3,000.00 to OFWs or OFW dependents. The amount varies depending on the disaster. Those who had been affected by natural disasters, such as thunderstorms or earthquakes, get Php 1,000.00 but those who suffered from man-made disasters like fire, explosions, or vehicle crashes can get up to Php 3,000.00.
4. How may I claim my benefit from the assistance?
Once your application has been approved, your local Regional Welfare Office or POLO office will provide you with instructions about claiming your benefit through your municipality.
5. Can I apply for assistance on behalf of an OFW?
Yes, if you are a legal beneficiary of the OFW. You will just need to submit the documentary requirements to apply for the program.
Summary
They say that the true test of loyalty happens when calamity strikes. We aren’t sure if this is applicable for OWWA and its relationship with its member OFWs. What we do know is that when calamity strikes, OWWA is there to help its members through its Calamity Assistance benefit.
It doesn’t matter whether you are active or not. As long as you satisfy the conditions set by the program, you are eligible to enjoy the one-time, no commitment special cash assistance program as a benefit of your US$25.00 OWWA membership.
Contact Information
For more information on the Calamity Assistance and other programs of OWWA, you may check out their website at https://owwa.gov.ph, their official Facebook page at https://facebook.com/OWWAofficial. You may also visit OWWA at:
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
Office Address: F.B. Harrison St, Pasay, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: 8891-7601 to 24
OWWA hotline number: 1348, (02) 1348 (Regional), (+632) 1348 (International)
OWWA Email Address: owwacares@owwa.gov.ph, commandcenter@dole.gov.ph
OWWA Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/OWWAofficial
OWWA website: https://owwa.gov.ph/